Cyber Security

Definition

Cyber security refers to the practice of protecting computer systems, networks, and data from theft, damage, or unauthorized access. It involves implementing various security measures to safeguard digital information and maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.

Analogy

Imagine your home as a computer system. To protect it from burglars, you install locks on the doors, set up a security system, and put up a fence around your property. Cyber security is like these protective measures, but for your digital assets. It involves various tools, technologies, and practices that keep your digital home safe from intruders.

In other words

Cyber security is the practice of defending digital assets from potential threats and unauthorized access.

Why is cyber security important?

It's one thing to know what cyber security is, but that is worthless if you don't know why you should know what a code repository is in the first place. Let's break down the importance of this tech term based on two high-level categories. We'll walk through an explanation as well as provide a score, 1-10, that shows you how much you should care about cyber security.

Pre-Product: 4/10

If you do not have a product yet, cyber security may not seem like a priority. However, it's crucial to start thinking about it early on. As you develop your product, you'll want to ensure that you're building security measures into its foundation. This will make it easier to protect your product and your users' data once it goes live.

Live Product: 7/10

If you have a live product, cyber security becomes even more critical. A security breach could lead to data theft, loss of customer trust, and financial losses. By implementing strong cyber security measures, you can protect your product, your users, and your business from potential threats.

Examples of cyber security measures

So you know what cyber security is, by definition. You know if you should care about it or not depending on your situation as a business/company/product. To dig in deeper, we will walk through some tools and processes so we can make sure you really have a solid grasp on cyber security.

Common Cyber Security Measures

1. Firewalls: Firewalls act as a barrier between your internal network and the external internet, filtering out malicious traffic and preventing unauthorized access.
2. Antivirus software: Antivirus software scans your computer and network for viruses, malware, and other threats, helping to keep your systems clean and secure.
3. Encryption: Encryption scrambles data, making it unreadable without the proper decryption key. This helps protect sensitive information from being intercepted and accessed by unauthorized parties.
4. Two-factor authentication (2FA): 2FA adds an extra layer of security to user accounts by requiring a second form of verification, such as a text message or fingerprint, in addition to a password.

Key Takeaways:

1. Cyber security is the practice of protecting digital assets from potential threats and unauthorized access.
2. If you do not yet have a product, start thinking about cyber security early on to build security measures into your product's foundation.
3. If you do have a product, implementing strong cyber security measures is crucial to protect your product, users, and business.
4. Common cyber security measures include firewalls, antivirus software, encryption, and two-factor authentication.