Security

Preview

1. What measures can be taken to prevent unauthorized access to computer systems and networks?
2. How can businesses safeguard sensitive information and data against cyber attacks and theft?
3. What role does encryption play in ensuring data security?
4. How can organizations ensure that their employees are properly trained and educated on security best practices?
5. What steps can be taken to monitor and detect potential security threats before they can cause damage?

Explain

Security refers to the measures that are taken to protect against potential threats, risks or dangers. This could involve anything from securing physical assets, such as a property or computer network, to managing access control, preventing cyberattacks or implementing emergency response plans.

For instance, a bank may implement various security measures to protect its assets and customers’ data. These measures include installing security cameras, hiring armed guards, securing the bank’s database with encryption technology, and implementing strict login credentials to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, strict policies may be put in place for staff handling cash and customer information, such as having employees perform periodic background checks and having them sign confidentiality agreements. All these measures collectively ensure the bank remains secure and safe from potential threats.

Keypoint

1. Confidentiality – Ensuring that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized individuals or systems.
2. Integrity – Ensuring that information is accurate, complete, and unchanged.
3. Availability – Ensuring that information is always accessible to authorized individuals or systems when needed.
4. Authentication – Verifying the identity of individuals or systems to ensure that only authorized access is granted.
5. Authorization – Determining what actions authorized individuals or systems are allowed to perform.
6. Non-repudiation – Ensuring that actions and transactions cannot be denied or disputed by any party involved.
7. Accountability – Ensuring that activities and actions are recorded and traceable to specific individuals or systems.
8. Risk Management – Identifying and assessing potential threats and vulnerabilities to minimize the likelihood and impact of security incidents.

Review

1. What is network security and how can it be achieved?
   A: Network security refers to the protection of a network and its resources from unauthorized access, theft, or damage. It can be achieved through the use of firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, access controls, and regular network monitoring.

2. What is a brute-force attack and how can it be prevented?
   A: A brute-force attack is a type of cyber attack where the attacker attempts to guess a password or encryption key by systematically trying every possible combination until they find the correct one. It can be prevented by using strong, complex passwords, limiting login attempts, and using multi-factor authentication.

3. What is phishing and how can it be identified and prevented?
   A: Phishing is a type of social engineering attack where the attacker sends an email or message, usually posing as a legitimate individual or organization, in an attempt to trick the recipient into providing sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers. It can be identified and prevented by looking for warning signs such as suspicious URLs or email addresses, grammar or spelling errors, and requests for sensitive information.

4. What is data encryption and how can it be used to enhance security?
   A: Data encryption is the process of converting plain text into cipher text using mathematical algorithms, in order to protect sensitive information from being read or accessed by unauthorized parties. It can be used to enhance security by ensuring that even if data is intercepted, it is unreadable without the correct decryption key.

5. What is a firewall and how does it protect against cyber attacks?
   A: A firewall is a network security system that monitors and filters incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules. It can protect against cyber attacks by blocking unauthorized access to a network, limiting the spread of malware, and preventing hackers from taking control of a system or stealing data.