The Physical Components of Cybersecurity

The physical components of cybersecurity can be defined as the physical resources and infrastructure used to manage, secure, and protect information and communications technology (ICT) systems. The physical components of cybersecurity are the most vulnerable to attack. This is because they are the most exposed to the outside world and have the least capability to detect or defend against an attack.

Before we discuss the different physical components of cybersecurity, let’s discuss what the term cybersecurity means.

What is cybersecurity?

The term cybersecurity refers to the protection of computer networks, systems, and data from attack or damage. It is often called computer security or information security. Cybersecurity also involves protecting against attacks such as computer viruses, malware, spyware, spam, theft of data, and unauthorized access to systems. Information security is a much broader issue than most people realize. It includes everything from securing computer systems to protecting personal data. Some people think it’s just about keeping hackers out of their computer system, but that’s only part of it.

You need to protect your entire network and make sure that every piece of equipment is configured properly and updated frequently. This includes routers, switches, firewalls, intrusion detection systems/intrusion prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and other devices that connect your network to the outside world (like the Internet). You also need to protect your data — which means making sure it isn’t accessible by unauthorized people or devices on your network. And you need to protect yourself against attacks from other networks that can cause damage to or steal information from your network (like denial-of-service attacks).

Cybersecurity is an ever-growing field and is constantly changing. As the world becomes more connected, cybercriminals are finding new ways to attack businesses and individuals. Companies must adapt their security strategies to ensure they are protected against today’s threats and tomorrow’s.

The physical components of cybersecurity

Here are the physical components of cybersecurity:

1. Network Security

Securing your physical network and all the associated devices is part of network security. Most businesses employ firewalls and IDS/IPS to keep an eye out for hazards in incoming and outgoing traffic. Cybersecurity services can also guarantee network security by securing your wireless network and guaranteeing that any remote connections take place via encrypted protocols.

Only authorized users are allowed access to the network, and network security is intended to prevent any unusual activity that would point to a breach. Bring your own device (BYOD) can pose network security threats. Appropriate BYOD policy must be in place to address associated threats.

2. Information security

Information security is the attitude of protecting information from unapproved access, use, disclosure, modification, disruption or destruction. It can be a policy, a process, or a set of technologies. Information security primarily focuses on protecting information in digital form.

Information security measures include encryption of data at rest (i.e. data stored on a device) and in transit (i.e. data being sent over a network). Most businesses will have to abide by one or more information security requirements. If violations of these rules lead to the compromise of personally identifiable information, heavy duties should be imposed.

3. Application Security

Application security refers to the protection of applications from cyber threats such as viruses and malware attacks. Application security includes things like antivirus software and programs that scan codes for vulnerabilities before they’re released into production environments (so people won’t have to worry about them being exploited by hackers).

It also involves understanding and assessing the risks associated with a particular application and developing a plan to mitigate those risks. Application security is a cross-cutting issue that affects many aspects of an organization’s IT infrastructures, such as its people, processes, data, and technology. The goal of application security is to reduce business risks by providing secure access to corporate applications and data.

4. Operational security

To ensure that all security measures are operating cooperatively across your operations and that none are at odds with one another, operational security entails taking a step back and examining your whole security plan as a whole.

All of your IT security procedures fall under the broad category of operational security. It ensures that the organization as a whole not only secures all potential points of vulnerability but also frequently updates its security methods to stay abreast of new threats and security developments. The goal of operational security is to minimize the risks associated with a company’s operations. Operational security should be a priority for all businesses because it’s impossible to have strong cybersecurity without strong operational security.

5. Disaster Recovery Planning

Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP) is the process of creating a plan to recover from a disaster and resume operations. It should consider all types of disasters, including natural disasters, human error, and malicious acts. DRP is vital because no organization’s cybersecurity posture can be 100%.

Disaster Recovery Planning helps an organization prepare for a disaster before it happens. This ensures that the organization can continue operating as usual even if something bad happens. A good DRP includes:

• A list of all critical systems and data that need to be recovered in case of emergency;
• A list of people who will be responsible for the recovery efforts;
• A list of vendors or contractors who will help with the recovery efforts;
• A plan for how to restore systems that were not backed up;
• Training procedures so employees know what to do in case of emergency.

6. End-user/Human Security

This applies to safeguarding user devices as well as user privacy. End-point security is another name for end-user security.

Beyond device protection, employee security awareness training is a key component of end-user security. Employees need to receive frequent training on topics like phishing email detection, password security, handling sensitive data, and other fundamentals of good cyber hygiene.

If you don’t have end-user security in place, you could have a breach as a result of a compromised staff device that spreads malware throughout the company network. Businesses must prioritize end-user security for this reason.

Conclusion

The physical components of cybersecurity are often overlooked, but they are a critical part of any security system. This is because they are the first line of defense against any malicious attacks on a network. The physical components of cybersecurity are the systems and processes that protect a business from its physical environment. These components include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, security cameras, locks, and alarms. Physical security measures are to be taken seriously to prevent unauthorized access to a facility or its contents by people.  The goal is to provide only authorized access while hindering or delaying unauthorized access. In other words, physical security is the protection of people, property, equipment, and information by providing safeguards against theft, vandalism, sabotage, and espionage.

As it is popularly known, the weakest link to security is people. People and processes must be strengthened for a robust cybersecurity posture. If you don’t already have a good physical security system in place, it’s time to start looking into that now.

Our Research Analyst: Endurance Igbru