What is cyber security? Different Types of Cyber ​​Security - Check Point Software (2023)

Different types of cyber security

Cyber ​​security is a broad field that covers several disciplines. It can be divided into seven main pillars:

1. Network security

Most attacks happen over the network, andnetwork securitysolutions are designed to recognize and block these attacks. These solutions include data and access controls such as Data Loss Control (DLP), IAM (Identity Access Management), NAC (Network Access Control) and NGFW (Next Generation Firewall) to enforce secure web usage rules.

Advanced and multi-layered technologies to prevent network threats include IPS (Intrusion Prevention System), NGAV (Next-Gen Antivirus), Sandboxing and CDR (Content Disarm and Reconstruction). Also important are network analytics, threat hunting, and automated SOAR (Security Orchestration and Response) technologies.

2. Security in the cloud

As organizations increasingly embrace cloud computing, cloud security becomes a top priority. ANDcloud security strategyincludes cybersecurity solutions, controls, policies and services that help protect an entire cloud organization (applications, data, infrastructure, etc.) from attacks.

Although many cloud providers offer security solutions, they are often inadequate to the task of achieving business-level cloud security. Additional third-party solutions are required to protect against data breaches and targeted attacks in cloud environments.

3. Endpoint Security

The zero-trust security model prescribes the creation of micro-segments around data wherever it resides. One way to do this with a mobile workforce is to useendpoint security. With endpoint security, companies can protect end-user devices such as desktops and laptops with data and network security controls, advanced threat prevention such as anti-phishing and anti-ransomware, and technologies that provide forensics such as endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution.

4. Mobile security

Often overlooked, mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones have access to corporate data, exposing companies to threats from malicious applications, zero-day, phishing and IM (Instant Messaging) attacks.Mobile securityprevents these attacks and protects operating systems and devices from rooting and jailbreaking. When included in an MDM (Mobile Device Management) solution, it enables companies to ensure that only compatible mobile devices have access to corporate assets.

5. IoT security

While the use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices certainly brings productivity benefits, it also exposes organizations to new cyber threats. Threat actors look for vulnerable devices inadvertently connected to the Internet for nefarious uses such as a route into a corporate network or for another bot in a global botnet.

IoT securityprotects these devices by detecting and classifying connected devices, automatic segmentation to control network activity, and using IPS as a virtual patch to prevent exploits of vulnerable IoT devices. In some cases, device firmware can also be extended with small agents to prevent exploits and runtime attacks.

6. Application security

Web applications, like anything else directly connected to the Internet, are targets of threats. Since 2007, OWASP has tracked the top 10 threats to critical web application security flaws such as injection, failed authentication, misconfiguration, and cross-site scripting to name a few.

Sapplication security, OWASP Top 10 attacks can be stopped. App security also prevents bot attacks and stops any malicious interaction with apps and APIs. With continuous learning, applications will remain protected even as DevOps releases new content.

7. Zero trust

The traditional security model focuses on the perimeter, building walls around an organization's valuable assets like a castle. However, this approach has several problems, such as the potential for insider threats and the rapid disintegration of the network perimeter.

As corporate assets move off-premises as part of cloud adoption and remote working, a new approach to security is required.Zero trusttakes a more granular approach to security, protecting individual resources through a combination of micro-segmentation, monitoring, and enforcing role-based access controls.

The evolution of the cybersecurity threat landscape

Today's cyber threats are not the same as they were a few years ago. As the cyber threat landscape changes, organizations need protection against current and future cyber criminals' tools and techniques.

Gen V attacks

The cybersecurity threat landscape is constantly evolving, and occasionally these improvements introduce a new generation of cyber threats. To date, we have experienced five generations of cyber threats and solutions designed to mitigate them, including:

• Gen I (virus):In the late 1980s, virus attacks on standalone computers inspired the creation of the first antivirus solutions.
• Gen II (Network):As cyberattacks began to come over the Internet, firewalls were developed to identify and block them.
• Gen III (applications):Exploitation of vulnerabilities within applications has caused the mass adoption of intrusion prevention systems (IPS)
• Gen IV (payload):As malware became more targeted and able to evade signature-based defenses, anti-robot and sandboxing solutions were needed to detect new threats.
• Gen V (Mega):The latest generation of cyber threats use massive multi-vector attacks, making advanced threat prevention solutions a priority.

Each generation of cyber threats has made previous cybersecurity solutions less effective or essentially obsolete. Protection against the modern cyber threat environment requiresGen V solutions for cyber security.

Attacks on the supply chain

Historically, many organizations' security efforts have focused on their own applications and systems. By strengthening the perimeter and allowing access only to authorized users and applications, they are trying to prevent cyber threat actors from penetrating their networks.

Recently, a wave insupply chain attacksit showed the limitations of this approach and the willingness and ability of cybercriminals to exploit them. Incidents such as the SolarWinds, Microsoft Exchange Server and Kasey hacks have shown that relationships of trust with other organizations can be a weakness in a corporate cybersecurity strategy. By exploiting one organization and exploiting those trust relationships, a cyber threat actor can gain access to the networks of all of its clients.

Protecting against supply chain attacks requires a trustless approach to security. While partnerships and vendor relationships are good for business, users and third-party software should have access limited to the minimum necessary to perform their jobs and should be constantly monitored.

Ransomware

Whileransomwarehas been around for decades, only becoming the dominant form of malware in the last few years. The WannaCry ransomware outbreak demonstrated the viability and cost-effectiveness of ransomware attacks, fueling a surge in ransomware campaigns.

Since then, the ransomware model has evolved drastically. While ransomware previously only encrypted files, it will now steal data to extort the victim and their customers in double and triple extortion attacks. Some ransomware groups also threaten or use DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks to induce victims to comply with ransom demands.

The growth of ransomware has also been enabled by the emergence of the Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) model, where ransomware developers will provide their malware to "affiliates" for distribution in exchange for a portion of the ransom. With RaaS, many cybercrime groups have access to advanced malware, making sophisticated attacks more common. As a result,protection against ransomwareit has become an essential component of a company's cyber security strategy.

Identity theft

Identity theftattacks have long been the most common and effective way for cybercriminals to gain access to corporate environments. It is often much easier to trick a user into clicking a link or opening an attachment than it is to identify and exploit a vulnerability within an organization's defenses.

Phishing attacks have only become more sophisticated in recent years. While the original phishing scams were relatively easy to detect, modern attacks are convincing and sophisticated to the point where they are almost indistinguishable from legitimate emails.

Employee cybersecurity training is not enough to protect against the modern threat of identity theft. Managing the risk of identity theft requires cybersecurity solutions that identify and block malicious emails before they even reach a user's inbox.

Malware

Different generations of cyber attacks are mostly defined by evolutionmalware. Malware authors and cyber defenders play a constant game of cat and mouse in which attackers try to develop techniques that outsmart or circumvent the latest security technologies. Often, when they succeed, a new generation of cyberattacks is created.

Modern malware is fast, stealthy and sophisticated. Detection techniques used by legacy security solutions (such as signature-based detection) are no longer effective and, often, by the time security analysts discover and respond to a threat, the damage has already been done.

Detection is no longer "good enough" to protect against malware attacks. Mitigating the threat of Generation V malware requires cybersecurity solutions focused on prevention, stopping attacks before they start and before any damage is done.

The need for a consolidated cybersecurity architecture

In the past, organizations could get by with a number of stand-alone security solutions designed to address specific threats and use cases. Malware attacks were less frequent and less sophisticated, and corporate infrastructures were less complex.

Today, cybersecurity teams are often overwhelmed trying to manage these complexescyber security architecture. This is caused by a number of factors, including:

• Sophisticated attacks:Modern cyberattacks can no longer be detected by legacy cybersecurity approaches. Deeper visibility and research is needed to identify advanced persistent threat (APT) campaigns and other sophisticated cyber threat actors.
• Complex environments:The modern corporate network spans on-prem infrastructure and multiple cloud environments. This makes consistent security monitoring and policy enforcement across an organization's IT infrastructure much more difficult.
• Heterogeneous endpoints:IT is no longer limited to traditional desktop and laptop computers. Technological evolution and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies make it necessary to secure a range of devices, some of which the company does not even own.
• The rise of remote work:The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that remote and hybrid work models are viable for many companies. Now organizations need solutions that enable them to do thiseffectively protect the remote workforceas well as on-site employees.

Trying to solve all these challenges with a series of disjointed solutions is unscalable and unsustainable. Only byconsolidating and simplifying their security architecturescan companies effectively manage their cyber security risk.

Achieving comprehensive cyber security with Check Point

A modern cybersecurity infrastructure is one that is consolidated and built from solutions that are designed to work together. This requires partnering with a security service provider experienced in protecting an organization's entire assets against a range of cyber threats.

Check Point offers solutions for all of an organization's security needs, including:

• Network Security:Check Point Quantum
• Internet of Things Security:Check Point Quantum IoT Protect
• Security in the cloud:Check Point CloudGuard
• Application security:Check Point CloudGuard AppSec
• Endpoint Security:The end point of the harmony of the check point
• Mobile security:Check Point Harmony Mobile

To learn more about the threats that Check Point solutions can protect against, see Check Point 2022cyber securityiMobile securityReports. You are also welcome to see Check Point solutions in action for yourselfs demoand try them out in your own environmentfree trial period.