What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is security focused on computers, computer networks and data, both stored and transmitted.
Due to the increasing reliance of computer systems in small and medium businesses, cybersecurity is a growing concern for business owners. Computer systems now include a wide variety of devices, including smartphones, televisions and tiny devices as part of the Internet of Things, and networks include not only the Internet and private data networks, but also Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other wireless networks.
Computer security covers all the processes and mechanisms by which digital equipment, information and services are protected from unintended or unauthorized access, change or destruction and the process of applying security measures to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data both in transit and at rest.
Why cybersecurity is important
Risks associated with an organization’s information assets need to be addressed. Achieving information security requires the management of risk, and encompasses risks from physical, human and technology related threats associated with all forms of information within or used by the organization.
The adoption of an ISMS is expected to be a strategic decision for an organization and it is necessary that this decision is seamlessly integrated, scaled and updated in accordance with the needs of the organization.
State of the art
The current state of the art in cybersecurity is a target in motion. Our team works daily to keep pace with the numerous emerging threat vectors and vulnerabilities of information systems that businesses rely on for communications and operations. We have the experience to perform system analysis and pinpoint risks, plus the knowledge to architect secure solutions that will prevent and detect unauthorized access to valuable proprietary data.
Information security is achieved through the implementation of an applicable set of controls, selected through the chosen risk management process and managed using an ISMS, including policies, processes, procedures, organizational structures, software and hardware to protect the identified information assets. These controls need to be specified, implemented, monitored, reviewed and improved where necessary, to ensure that the specific information security and business objectives of the organization are met. Relevant information security controls are expected to be seamlessly integrated with an organization’s business processes.
Information Security
Management involves activities to direct, control and continually improve the organization within appropriate structures. Management activities include the act, manner, or practice of organizing, handling, directing, supervising, and controlling resources. Management structures extend from one person in a small organization to management hierarchies consisting of many individuals in large organizations.
In terms of an ISMS, management involves the supervision and making of decisions necessary to achieve business objectives through the protection of the organization’s information assets. Management of information security is expressed through the formulation and use of information security policies, procedures and guidelines, which are then applied throughout the organization by all individuals associated with the organization.
A management system uses a framework of resources to achieve an organization’s objectives. The management system includes organizational structure, policies, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources.
Process
Organizations need to identify and manage many activities in order to function effectively and efficiently. Any activity using resources needs to be managed to enable the transformation of inputs into outputs using a set of interrelated or interacting activities – this is also known as a process. The output from one process can directly form the input to another process and generally this transformation is carried out under planned and controlled conditions. The application of a system of processes within an organization, together with the identification and interactions of these processes, and their management, can be referred to as a “process approach”.