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This video goes over some of the physical security systems that companies may use

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Physical Security Systems for Media Facilities

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There are some ethical concerns and challenges when it comes to implementing technological and physical security measures. One thing that comes up frequently, regarding ethical concerns, is the concern of people's privacy. Many security measures either record you, or what you are doing, and many people have a problem with that. Another concern with the security measures is that those can also be hacked by hackers. Just because there is a camera in an office, does not mean it is on and woking. One way to mitigate these concerns is having the highest security possible for all security systems.

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CHAPTER 5 Protecting Your System:

Physical Security

Introduction to Physical Security

Most people think about locks, bars, alarms, and uniformed guards when they think about security. While these countermeasures are by no means the only precautions that need to be considered when trying to secure an information system, they are a perfectly logical place to begin. Physical security is a vital part of any security plan and is fundamental to all security efforts--without it, information security ( Chapter 6), software security ( Chapter 7), user access security ( Chapter 8), and network security ( Chapter 9) are considerably more difficult, if not impossible, to initiate. Physical security refers to the protection of building sites and equipment (and all information and software contained therein) from theft, vandalism, natural disaster, manmade catastrophes, and accidental damage (e.g., from electrical surges, extreme temperatures, and spilled coffee). It requires solid building construction, suitable emergency preparedness, reliable power supplies, adequate climate control, and appropriate protection from intruders.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q. How can I implement adequate site security when I am stuck in an old and decrepit facility?
A. Securing your site is usually the result of a series of compromises-- what you need versus what you can afford and implement. Ideally, old and unusable buildings are replaced by modern and more serviceable facilities, but that is not always the case in the real world. If you find yourself in this situation, use the risk assessment process described in Chapter 2 to identify your vulnerabilities and become aware of your preferred security solutions. Implement those solutions that you can, with the understanding that any steps you take make your system that much more secure than it had been. When it comes time to argue for new facilities, documenting those vulnerabilities that were not addressed earlier should contribute to your evidence of need.

Q. Even if we wanted to implement these physical security guidelines, how would we go about doing so?
A. Deciding which recommendations to adopt is the most important step. Your risk assessment results should arm you with the information required to make sound decisions. Your findings might even show that not every guideline is required to meet the specific needs of your site (and there will certainly be some variation based on need priorities). Once decided on, however, actually initiating a strategy is often as simple as raising staff awareness and insisting on adherence to regulations. Some strategies might require basic &quot'handyman&quot' skills to install simple equipment (e.g., key locks, fire extinguishers, and surge protectors), while others definitely demand the services of consultants or contractors with special expertise (e.g., window bars, automatic fire equipment, and alarm systems). In any case, if the organization determines that it is necessary and feasible to implement a given security strategy, installing equipment should not require effort beyond routine procedures for completing internal work orders and hiring reputable contractors.

Determining countermeasures often requires creativity: don't limit yourself to traditional solutions.

Q. What if my budget won't allow for hiring full-time security guards?
A. Hiring full-time guards is only one of many options for dealing with security monitoring activities. Part-time staff on watch during particularly critical periods is another. So are video cameras and the use of other staff (from managers to receptionists) who are trained to monitor security as a part of their duties. The point is that by brainstorming a range of possible countermeasure solutions you can come up with several effective ways to monitor your workplace. The key is that the function is being performed. How it is done is secondary--and completely up to the organization and its unique requirements.

Guidelines for security policy development can be found in Chapter 3.

Policy Issues

Physical security requires that building site(s) be safeguarded in a way that minimizes the risk of resource theft and destruction. To accomplish this, decision-makers must be concerned about building construction, room assignments, emergency procedures, regulations governing equipment placement and use, power supplies, product handling, and relationships with outside contractors and agencies.

The physical plant must be satisfactorily secured to prevent those people who are not authorized to enter the site and use equipment from doing so. A building does not need to feel like a fort to be safe. Well-conceived plans to secure a building can be initiated without adding undue burden on your staff. After all, if they require access, they will receive it--as long as they were aware of, and abide by, the organization's stated security policies and guidelines (see Chapter 3). The only way to ensure this is to demand that before any person is given access to your system, they have first signed and returned a valid Security Agreement. This necessary security policy is too important to permit exceptions.

As discussed more completely in Chapter 2, a threat is any action, actor, or event that contributes to risk

Physical Threats (Examples)

Examples of physical threats include:

Natural events (e.g., floods, earthquakes, and tornados)

Other environmental conditions (e.g., extreme temperatures, high humidity, heavy rains, and lightning)

Intentional acts of destruction (e.g., theft, vandalism, and arson)

Unintentionally destructive acts (e.g., spilled drinks, overloaded electrical outlets, and bad plumbing)

A countermeasure is a strp planned and taken in opposition to another act or potential act.

Physical Security Countermeasures

The following countermeasures address physical security concerns that could affect your site(s) and equipment. These strategies are recommended when risk assessment identifies or confirms the need to counter potential breaches in the physical security of your system.

Countermeasures come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and levels of complexity. This document endeavors to describe a range of strategies that are potentially applicable to life in education organizations. In an effort to maintain this focus, those countermeasures that are unlikely to be applied in education organizations arenot included here. If after your risk assessment, for example, your security team determines that your organization requires high-end countermeasures like retinal scanners or voice analyzers, you will need to refer to other security references and perhaps even need to hire a reliable technical consultant.

Create a Secure Environment: Building and Room Construction: 17

Don't arouse unnecessary interest in your critical facilities: A secure room should have "low" visibility (e.g., there should not be signs in front of the building and scattered throughout the hallways announcing "expensive equipment andsensitive information this way").

Select only those countermeasures that meet percuived needs as indentified during risk assessment (Chapter 2) and support security policy (Chapter 3).

Maintain locking devices responsibly: Locking doors and windows can be an effective security strategy as long as appropriate authorities maintain the keys and combinations responsibly. If there is a breach, each compromised lock should be changed.

Investigate options other than traditional keyhole locks for securing areas as is reasonable:
Based on the findings from your risk assessment (see Chapter 2), consider alternative physical security strategies such as window bars, anti-theft cabling (i.e., an alarm sounds when any piece of equipment is disconnected from the system), magnetic key cards, and motion detectors.

Maintain a reasonable climate within the room: A good rule of thumb is that if people are comfortable, then equipment is usually comfortable--but even if people have gone home for the night, room temperature and humidity cannot be allowed to reach extremes (i.e., it should be kept between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 20 and 80 percent humidity). Note that it's not freezing temperatures that damagedisks, but the condensation that forms when they thaw out.

Be particularly careful with non-essential materials in a secure computer room: Technically, this guideline should read "no eating, drinking, or smoking nearcomputers," but it is quite probably impossible to convince staff to implement such a regulation. Other non-essential materials that can cause problems in a secure environment and, therefore, should be eliminated include curtains, reams of paper, and other flammables.

Recognize that some countermeasures are ideals and may not be feasible if, for example, your organization is housed in an old building.

Don't say it if you don't mean it--instituting policies that you don't bother to enforce makes users wonder whether you're serious about other rules as well.

Locking critical equipment in secure closet can be an excellent security strategy findings establish that it is warranted.

Guard Equipment:

Keep critical systems separate from general systems: Prioritize equipment based on its criticality and its role in processing sensitive information (seeChapter 2). Store it in secured areas based on those priorities.

Keep a record of your equipment: Maintain up-to-date logs of equipment manufacturers, models, and serial numbers in a secure location. Be sure to include a list of all attachedperipheral equipment. Consider videotaping the equipment (including close-up shots) as well. Such clear evidence of ownership can be helpful when dealing with insurance companies.

Maintain and repair equipment: Have plans in place for emergency repair of critical equipment. Either have a technician who is trained to do repairs on staff or make arrangements with someone who has ready access to the site when repair work is needed. If funds allow, consider setting upmaintenance contracts for your critical equipment. Local computer suppliers often offer service contracts for equipment they sell, and many workstation andmainframe vendors also provide such services. Once you've set up the contract, be sure that contact information is kept readily available.Technical support telephone numbers, maintenance contract numbers, customer identification numbers, equipment serial numbers, and mail-in information should be posted or kept in a log book near the system for easy reference. Remember that computer repair technicians may be in a position to access yourconfidential information, so make sure that they know and follow your policies regarding outside employees and contractors who access your system.

Who needs a Maintenance Contract?

"Percussive maintenance" is the fine art of pounding on a piece of sensitive electronic equipment until it returns to proper working order.

Rebuff Theft: 18

Identify your equipment as yours in an overt way: Mark your equipment in an obvious, permanent, and easily identifiable way. Use bright (even fluorescent) paint onkeyboards, monitor backs and sides, and computer bodies. It may decrease the resale value of the components, but thieves cannot remove these types of identifiers as easily as they can adhesive labels.

Losing a computer to theft has both financial costs (the replacement value of the equipment) and information costs (the files contained on the hard drive).

Limit and monitor access to equipment areas: Keep an up-to-date list of personnel authorized to access sensitive areas. Never allow equipment to be moved or serviced unless the task is pre-authorized and the service personnel can produce an authentic work order and verify who they are. Require picture or other forms of identification if necessary. Logs of all such activity should be maintained. Staff should be trained to always err on the cautious side (and the organization must support such caution even when it proves to be inconvenient).

Attend to Portable Equipment and Computers: 19

Never leave a laptop computer unattended: Small, expensive things often disappear very quickly--even more quickly from public places and vehicles!

While the X-ray conveyor belt is the preferred way of transporting a laptop through airport security (compared to subjecting the computer to the magnetic fields of walk-through or wand scanners), it is also a prime place for theft. Thieves love to "inadvertently" pick up the wrong bag and disappear while passengers are fumbling through their pockets to find the loose coins that keep setting off the metal detectors. Use the X-ray conveyor belt, but never take your eyes off your laptop!

Require laptop users to read the recommended travel guidelines that should come with the equipments's documentation.

Don't leave a laptop computer in a car trunk overnight or for long periods of time: In cold weather, condensation can form and damage the machine. In warm weather, high temperatures (amplified by the confined space) can also damagehard drives.

It Really Happens!

Jack's briefcase was his life. Well, maybe it wasn't his whole life, but it definitely contained the better part of his professional life. It held his grade book, his lesson plans, his master's thesis--all very important things in the world of a middle school teacher.

And it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Jack sure was surprised when his life (the briefcase) went up in flames one afternoon in the school cafeteria. He couldn't explain it, but nonetheless he found himself sitting in front of the district technologist trying to do exactly that--explain why his briefcase caught on fire and ruined, among more important things to him, the spare battery he was carrying for the school's laptop computer.

"So," the technologist asked, "you're saying that you're surprised that your briefcase caught on fire? Well, let me tell you, I'm glad that it was only your bag that was damaged. Didn't you know that the exposed terminals of a battery can cause a spark? Didn't you know that any piece of metal, even a paper clip, can serve as the conduit? That's all it takes: an improperly stored battery, a paper clip and anything combustible--and wham, you've got yourself a fire. Your home could have gone up in flames last night because of it. Or your school could have this afternoon. Didn't you know that?"

Jack almost replied that, of course, he hadn't known about all of those dangers, and that the technologist should have warned him about them before he had borrowed the laptop and extra battery. But instead he just shook his head sheepishly. After all, along with his grade book, lesson plans, and master's thesis, he had just burned a $200 dollar laptop battery that didn't belong to him.

Regulate Power Supplies:

Be prepared for fluctuations in the electrical power supply: Do so by (1) plugging all electrical equipment into surge suppressors or electrical power filters; and (2) using Uninterruptible Power Sources (UPSs) to serve as auxiliary electrical supplies to critical equipment in the event of power outages.

Pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations for storing portable computer batteries--they carry live charges and are capable of igniting fires if not handled properly.

Protect power supplies from environmental threats: Consider having a professional electrician design or redesign your electrical system to better withstand fires, floods, and other disasters.

Select outlet use carefully: Although little thought generally goes into plugging equipment into an outlet, machines that draw heavily from a power source can affect, and be affected by, smaller equipment that draws energy from the same outlet.

Guard against the negative effects of static electricity in the office place: Install anti-static carpeting and anti-static pads, use anti-static sprays, and encourage staff to refrain from touching metal and other static-causing agents before using computer equipment.

Protect Output:

Assign printers to users with similar security clearances: You don't want employees looking at sensitive financial information (e.g., staff salaries) or confidential student information (e.g., individual records) while they are waiting for their documents to print. It is better to dedicate aprinter to the Director of Finance than to have sensitive data scattered around a general use printer. Don't hesitate to put printers in locked rooms if that is what the situation demands.

Dispose of confidential waste adequately: Print copies of confidential information should not be placed in common dumpsters unless shredded. (Comparable requirements for discarding electronic copies of confidential information can be found inChapter 6.)

It Really Happens!

Dr. Hamilton was everything that a school district could ask for. She was a great visionary, a trusted leader, and an excellent superintendent... but she was terrible with the piles of paper she kept on her desk. Luckily for her and the district, she had an equally competent secretary. Lucy was always one step ahead of Dr. Hamilton with the paperwork. She knew where to find the latest draft of the letter to the Board. She knew which form needed to be completed by when. She knew how many copies of the monthly report needed to be run off.

One afternoon, Dr. Hamilton came running out of her office to Lucy's desk, "You haven't shredded those papers I gave you this morning yet, have you?"

As was always the case, Lucy had, of course, completed the task shortly after it had been handed to her. She told Dr. Hamilton so, and asked what was the matter.

"I think that I accidentally gave you my only copy of the speech I'm giving to the Chamber of Commerce tonight," the distraught woman replied, knowing that she'd never be able to reproduce the outline in time for the meeting.

"Don't worry," Lucy said, beaming with pride that her forethought was about to again pay off, "I make backup copies of every sheet of paper you give me before I turn on that paper shredder. Let's look in my filing cabinet."

Dr. Hamilton let out a deep sigh of relief--Lucy had again saved the day. Suddenly, however, the astute superintendent paused, "What do you mean you make copies of everything I give you before you turn on the paper shredder?"

Physical Security Checklist

While it may be tempting to simply refer to the following checklist as your security plan, to do so would limit the effectiveness of the recom-mendations. They are most useful when initiated as part of a larger plan to develop and implement security policy throughout an organization. Other chapters in this document also address ways to customize policy to your organization's specific needs--a concept that should not be ignored if you want to maximize the effectiveness of any given guideline.

Security Checklist for Chapter 5
The brevity of a checklist can be helpful, but it in no way makes up for the detail of the text.

Check Points
for Physical Security

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Chapter 5-Protecting Your System: Physical Security, from Safeguarding Your Technology, NCES Publication 98-297 (National Center for Education Statistics)

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CHAPTER 5 Protecting Your System: Physical Security Introduction to Physical Security Most people think about locks, bars, alarms, and uniformed guards when they think about security. While these countermeasures are by no means the only precautions that need to be considered when trying to secure an information system, they are a perfectly logical place to begin.

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Physical security is just as important as technological security. In many cases hackers can get a company's information by finding a way to get into their building and then finding their networking systems. Due to this, having many physical security measures is very important. Having things like door locks, passcodes for rooms, and intrusion detection systems can help a lot. If companies just had technological security systems, and no physical ones, it would result in a lot more hacks being done against the company.

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In this day and age of technology, security is a top priority for businesses across every industry. With almost every organization now depending on IT infrastructure to carry out day-to-day business operations such as information exchange and monetary transactions, securing your digital network makes practical sense.

Because of the ever-changing landscape of digital infrastructure, it's natural for businesses to invest heavily in protecting their IT assets, especially as newer, more sophisticated threats are on the horizon. But are digital security measures enough?

Physical security systems are not a new concept, but they are equally as important as cyber security measures when it comes to protecting people, property and assets.

In this guide, you will learn the definition of physical security, its components, technologies, benefits and other information you should know to implement an effective physical security plan.

What is physical security?

A common definition of physical security includes security measures designed to limit access to authorized individuals, as well as any resources that protect personnel from harm and property from damage.

So, in the simplest term, physical security is defined as the securing and protecting of organizational assets from coming to harm as a result of physical events. These events can range from natural disasters such as fires and floods, to human-inflicted dangers including theft and vandalism. Accidents and accidental damage also fall under the umbrella of events that may be covered by a physical security plan.

So, what do physical security systems and plans entail? On the surface, physical security measures include locks, gates, video security cameras and security guards. Although these are excellent strategies, there are deeper layers that you should take into account when creating a physical security plan.

An effective plan should include equipment and technology, and can work alongside these areas:

Training: Ensure your staff has the proper knowledge in implementing your physical security strategy.

Site design and layout: Equipment and physical security components should be strategically placed to complement the design and layout of your facility.

Emergency response readiness: Staff in your facility should be trained on what to do during certain situations and emergencies.

Access control: Understand how you will assign access to your staff and limit access for restricted spaces.

Environmental components: Create safety measures to mitigate damage from intentional or unforeseen natural disasters that may happen.

Key physical security measures

When it comes to preventing different types of physical security threats in any facility, there are many types of innovations that you can use - from encrypted access card systems and security cameras to mobile credentials and temperature sensors. But before you use any of these systems, it's important to understand the different elements that can contribute to your overall plan.

When creating a physical security strategy, you need to have all your security measures complementing one another. This means that you need to use different types of physical security measures in a layered approach to ensure that you're protected from every angle.

So, what is good practice for physical security? Here are the most common elements in an effective physical security plan:

1. Deterrence: This type of physical security technology focuses on keeping unwanted people, vehicles or animals away from a certain area. Deterrence can encompass various equipment such as signage, security cameras and door access systems. It also includes physical barriers such as doors, locks and walls. It is essentially any security systems or equipment that can help deter intruders from entering sensitive areas.

2. Detection: Deterrents can only do so much. If you want to fully protect your facility, you need to have devices that can identify potential intruders and ways to alert the correct authorities. Some technologies you can use for physical security detection measures are sensors, alarms and automatic notifications via video management software.

3. Delay: Several physical security controls are created to slow intruders down when breaking into a facility. Simple security measures such as additional doors, locks and security guards can help delay incidents. More advanced physical security technology, such as key card access and mobile credentials, can make it more difficult for unauthorized users trying to enter a building. With this technology in place, it's easy to mitigate a breach before too much damage is caused.

4. Response: Once a breach or intrusion happens, you must also have a response strategy in place, such as building lockdowns or automatically notifying emergency services.

Successful and effective plans should include these technologies to ensure that a facility can prevent physical threats and take necessary action if a security breach occurs.

Components of physical security controls and systems

Physical security controls fall into three main areas of concern: access control, surveillance and testing. How well these security components function can make or break your physical security program. Their performance can also indicate how well your plan was implemented, where to improve and what to maintain.

Access control

The most effective way to maximize your physical security controls is by limiting and controlling who can access your commercial premises. This physical security component involves the means of restricting the exposure of specific assets and areas to authorized staff only. Companies can use physical security components like keypads, ID badges, biometric logins and security guards to limit access for unauthorized individuals.

So, how do physical access control systems work? The first line of defense of physical security is its architecture. This includes walls, gates, doors and guards that are strategically placed to deter criminal entry. In some locations, barbed wires, additional locks, visible security signs and equipment can help reduce attempts to enter a facility.

There are also more advanced access control measures that use a technology-supported approach to tighten up building security. One example of physical security is using proximity ID badges. Instead of just a plastic ID badge, employees are issued key card that use NFC or RFID technology to authenticate identity when entering various locations in the building.

Apart from employees, companies can also provide visitor access cards to easily control which areas your visitors can access in your facility. Some companies use mobile authenticators instead of ID cards to validate identities to enter a building. These employee ID badge systems and authenticators will act as obstacles for anyone without authorization, making it more challenging for attackers to gain access to certain assets and information on your premises.

Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) increases the time it takes for intruders to carry out any criminal offense they have in mind. This physical security best practice requires users to present at least two authorized credentials, such as typing in a PIN code and scanning an ID badge. The more strategically placed obstacles available, the more time companies can buy to act on threats and mitigate them.

Additionally, access control can do much more than restricting unauthorized access. Physical barriers like walls and fences can help protect buildings from natural and environmental disasters including landslides and floods. Obviously, these risks depend on the location, but organizations must always consider threats like this when investing in physical security systems.

Importance of access control for physical security
In addition to deterring intruders, organizations can use modern access control systems to understand staff and visitor movements. For example, a badge system allows administrators to access reports and read event logs. This can be used to better understand building usage, identify choke points, improve overall processes and traffic flow and take a data-driven and risk-based approach to security.

Access control can be also used in visitor management. One common tactic intruders use is unannounced visits to facilities they want to target. They check what security measures are in place, investigating if it's a viable option to continue infiltrating the space. If you only manage your visitor access on paper, they may feel more confident about gaining unauthorized access. But if you have more advanced activity logs and detailed visitor records, they may think twice before entering the premises.

Surveillance tools and technology

When it comes to prevention and post-incident recovery, surveillance is the most critical component of physical security. It refers to the staff, resources and technology used by organizations to monitor the activity of different areas of the facilities. This includes video cameras like dome surveillance cameras, sensors, guards and automatic notification systems.

One of the most commonly used types of physical security technology for this component is security cameras or closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. These devices continuously record the activity of a given area, allowing you to see what's happening at a particular location in real time, or record it for later viewing.

Some commercial surveillance systems come with built-in analytics that can detect and classify objects intelligently, notifying you if there is something unusual going on. When you choose video equipment for your facility, make sure to enlist the help of a security camera installer who can carefully assess every entry point, checking for any blindspots that can be exploited.

A security camera installer will also ensure that your video cameras are strategically placed in locations that require constant monitoring and protection.

Importance of video cameras for physical security
When criminal activity happens, you need evidence to prove the event occurred. Often, video security gives the proof you need. Many camera types such as bullet security cameras allow for constant recording in a particular area, with some that have night vision capabilities to see through darker environments. If something suspicious happens at your facility, you can use these recordings as evidence.

In addition, some monitoring devices such as license plate recognition cameras offer an automatic notification feature, which provides you with instant alerts for physical security threats such as intrusion detection. Advanced video cameras and management software often have real-time monitoring, allowing you to see in-action breaches as they unfold. This can give you an idea of how to mitigate them as quickly as possible.

Physical security systems testing

Access control and monitoring are preventative physical security measures - you'll only know their quality once an actual event occurs. But of course, you don't want to wait for that to happen without knowing how secure your facility is. So, testing is needed as a physical security best practice. This physical security component checks how well your organization identifies, responds to and contains a security threat.

Testing requires educating your employees, often through training and written communication. Cameras and technologies can do a lot, but your business will be better protected if your employees are knowledgeable about your company's security measures and what to do in the event of a physical security threat. This particularly applies to natural disasters such as fire and earthquakes, but is equally important in identifying physical security risks such as tailgating or suspicious activity.
Importance of testing for physical security
Testing allows business owners or security personnel to understand how well their security system works and which areas to improve. If you conduct mock physical security breaches, you can also see how well your employees perform in various scenarios. This also gives you an idea of how your security measures are performing and if there are other vulnerabilities you need to protect.

At the same time, educating your employees about physical security policies and protocols can make them feel safer at work. If employees are made aware of the systems in place to detect criminal activity, this can also help to deter any physical threat activity, such as fraudulent behavior or employee theft.

Examples of physical security implementation

Perimeter security

This is one of the most common physical security examples we see today. Perimeter security is straightforward. It involves creating physical barriers that protect your facility from intruders. This includes fences, gates, barbed wire and security guards. This type of physical security is also your first line of defense to deter intruders from getting into your facility.

Environmental elements

The layout and landscaping on your property can help control the flow of traffic on the premises, and deter unwanted activity. For example, high hedges around the perimeter, motion-activated lighting and maintained walking paths make it easier to spot anyone who looks suspicious lurking around the building exterior.

Secure credentials for authorized individuals

Requiring every authorized individual to have access credentials is among the top security best practices to implement in your building. There are many types of systems, and each can be used depending on the threat level or importance of an area, including:

These physical security devices ensure that each user can easily access the building when needed. They also give businesses better insight into daily traffic, failed access attempts and potential physical security threats.

Restricted access areas

This physical security example shows how measures can be implemented for restricted areas, such as a server room or area with expensive equipment. Areas like this can only be accessed by a small subset of the staff, which requires additional access credentials, such as MFA, unique PINs or biometric credentials. If anything goes missing or is damaged in the room, it narrows down who can be held accountable.

Additional monitoring security components, such as surveillance like panoramic security cameras or a staffed guard, can further deter unauthorized activity in restricted spaces.

Logs and audit trails

Another way to secure a facility is through detailed logging. Instead of just limiting access, this physical security method keeps a record of which credentials are used, as well as where and when the activity occurred. This doesn't only deter unauthorized users, but also allows you to create a forensic-friendly data environment essential for physical security management and maintenance.

For example, records of multiple failed login attempts or attempted access using a lost card would be easier to spot with detailed activity logs. If there's a security breach, you can quickly identify weaknesses in your system through audit trails.

Monitoring systems

Most organizations have surveillance in place to protect a facility. This allows them to detect intruders right away that may have bypassed other security measures, like perimeter security. Some systems can also detect natural disasters and issue warnings if they do. These systems can include motion detectors, security cameras and fire alarms. In some situations, having these devices record activities is enough. However, other facilities require a surveillance system to be actively managed by a guard or personnel.

Staff members

Of course, you need someone to enforce your physical security measures, and that's where your employees come in. There are some staff members or security personnel that are explicitly hired to implement your security plan, while others are only encouraged to take an active role when an emergency happens.

For instance, your security guards and receptionists can act as gatekeepers, only giving access to those who are authorized. Patrols, on the other hand, can monitor a section of your facility at certain hours of the day. But staff members shouldn't be the only physical security measures you should implement. This example of physical security should be supplemented with other technologies and components to ensure that you cover every ground you need to protect.

Common threats to physical security

In the digital era we live in, the number of threats is alarmingly increasing, with many now originating from cyberspace. From data breaches to hacking, the focus of many organizations has shifted, with greater focus on security solutions for physical security that also protect digital provisions.

With this in mind, let's take a look at common threats to physical security. These threats can be targeted not only at the assets on your premises but also at your digital and human resources. Physical security threats can be natural or man-made, so it's vital that your strategy addresses both vulnerabilities. Threats can also be categorized based on the place of origin of the attacks:

Internal threats

This type of physical security threat comes from within your organization. Internal physical security risks are more challenging to contain than external threats as they are tougher to predict. They can be accidental or malicious in nature. Examples of such risks include:

Employees committing theft or causing property damage

Careless staff members leaving restricted areas open

Mistakes made by your security team

Faulty infrastructure or hazardous work conditions

In fact, internal theft from employees is estimated to top $50 billion each year for U.S. businesses. Therefore, you need to have security measures in place to keep internal members from being tempted to act maliciously. This can include RFID-enabled access devices and video security systems to protect critical areas of your facility.

Internal threats can also come from non-human sources such as fires due to faulty wiring, mishandled equipment, and more. Because these types of threats are harder to predict, it's best to identify any areas of your facility that are more exposed to this type of danger and take proactive steps to mitigate this physical security risk. A proper emergency preparedness and response plan is also a critical physical security measure for these types of scenarios.

External threats

As its name implies, this type of threat originates from outside your organization. This can include attacks from outside parties with malicious intent and natural disasters. External physical security threats can also include:

Forced entry or break-ins

Vandalism and property damage

Unauthorized entry for persons outside your staff or approved visitor list

In the United States alone, theft from commercial properties accounted for more than 37 percent of all burglary crimes in 2019, according to data from the FBI . Most of the time, this type of crime is perpetrated by external actors. However, internal actors can also participate in such events, sometimes unknowingly by letting a tailgater into a building or leaving a door propped open by accident.

Natural threats

These physical security threats constitute damage caused by natural causes like floods, earthquakes, lightning strikes and other unpredictable natural disasters. In this situation, the physical security risk lies in the fact that such an event can cause extreme damage to your assets and endanger employees.

More than the loss of hardware, the loss of years and years of critical business data and investment, as well as injuries to your employees can have a severe blow to your business operation. This is why it is crucial that physical security strategies include proper training and communication for emergency procedures across every industry and property type.

Why cyber and physical security convergence matters

For digital infrastructure, cybersecurity undoubtedly plays an integral part in its safe operation. However, data systems can still be breached via a physical security threat. This is one reason many businesses today are turning toward cyber and physical security convergence for more proactive protection. This type of security strategy safeguards essential business data, critical and confidential information, as well as hardware, personnel and other tangible structures.

With more devices connected to internal networks than ever before, approaching cybersecurity with physical security measures in mind helps create a well-rounded strategy that covers your business from multiple angles, and removes redundancies across your security teams.

Physical security best practices

So, what physical security measures should you have in place to keep your facility secure? What components of physical security should you give more attention to?

There is no one size fits all physical security solution here. Every organization has different needs, but there are common measures that - when adjusted to fit your situation - can help protect your organization from physical attacks. So, what is a good practice for physical security?

Investing in security personnel

One of the best deterrents against possible attacks is visible security, and this is what investing in security personnel can guarantee. For example, you can hire extra security guards or change the existing patrol routes to cover more ground. Consider manning important entrances and exits, which can help ensure that no unauthorized entries or exits happen.

On top of that, having security personnel can give your employees peace of mind and dissuade those with malicious intent from working against your business. However, having security guards doesn't automatically guarantee protection and safety.

You also need to ensure that your security team understands your organizational requirements and is trained in the physical security measures your business is implementing. They should also have state-of-the-art equipment that they carry on their duty that can help deter and delay intruders. They should also know how to respond appropriately in different security situations.

Using monitoring systems

Security guards can be effective in deterring and delaying intruders, but they can only detect threats within their proximity. This is where monitoring systems come into play. This type of physical security system can help you know what's happening in various areas of your facilities at the same time while preventing potential dangers. However, not all monitoring solutions are right for every property, and many factors contribute to their effectiveness.

Security cameras should be strategically placed in locations that can offer maximum visibility over your premises. These recordings can act as evidence when a breach occurs, and cameras equipped with AI analytics can help security teams know where to focus in critical moments.

An automated alert system can notify the right person immediately in case of unauthorized access or suspicious movements in a particular, secure area of your facility. This allows immediate response to threats to help lessen any damage. You can also employ advanced security cameras that allow you to zoom in on a particular person or object to closely monitor their suspicious activity.

Sensors can also help provide better situational awareness. Some examples of the physical security component include smoke sensors, temperature sensors, water or leak sensors and occupancy counting devices.

Some systems also allow security team leaders to check the location of their guards through GPS. This also allows quick response and delegation when an incident occurs, as leaders know who to call within the location of the incident.

Limiting facility access

Do you know the number one enemy of security? Accessibility. Easy access to your facility is a clarion call to malicious actors who wish to compromise your assets. One effective way to stop this from happening is by restricting access to your facility. So how can you control access to your location?

The answer depends on what you want to protect and the risks you can afford. In areas that need less security, a guard can suffice. Some situations may call for identification tags and security checks when entering and leaving the building. A commercial intercom system can also assist in protecting a property by vetting and tracking guests to your building and keep deliveries secure. However, in areas where maximum physical security should be implemented, more advanced access control like biometric readers and coded locks should be in place.

Educating your employees

Even if you have the most advanced security systems and trained guards in place, none of them matter if your employees are not aware of your physical security protocols and the duties they play in them. Does your staff know what to do in case there's a physical intrusion in your facility? Do they know where to go if natural disasters occur?

To guarantee that your employees are prepared, make sure that they are well-trained to handle physical security threats. When they know the standard operating procedure, they can contribute to protecting your assets, and can maybe even save lives in the process. At the same time, educating them can give them peace of mind that they are protected when breaches and emergencies occur.

Final thoughts on physical security plans, systems and solutions

Every business is unique, and so are its physical security requirements. Again, there is no one-size-fits-all approach that can protect all aspects of your business, so it's critical to ensure that your physical security plan is tailor-fit to your organization and facility. Understanding what physical security is, as well as what robust physical security standards are, is a good start.

As physical and digital worlds continuously overlap, you need a trusted partner that helps you navigate both. Conduct a thorough physical security risk assessment, and consult with a professional to get the most out of your physical security systems and technology.

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Physical Security: Planning, Measures & Examples + PDF

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Protect your business with this full guide to physical security. Explore physical security controls, solutions & components to combat common threats.

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This video goes along with what I said in the previous posts.

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White Hat vs Black Hat vs Grey Hat | Difference Between Black Hat White Hat Grey Hat | Intellipaat

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The different types of hackers all have different intents, targets, and methods. White hat hackers are targeting black hat hackers and any other hackers that are trying to take advantage of the person they work for. They intend to detect gaps in network security and patch them. They go about it by working in an ethical way and by following all government rules.

Black hat hackers have the intention of stealing or destroying someones information. They are very unethical and do not follow the laws set by the government. Their targets have a wide range. They may attack an individual or a huge corporation.

Gray hat hackers fall in between. They are normally not certified hackers, and they decide if they want to be good or bad depending on what they are hacking. Gray hat hackers are typically unethical, but they are not always illegal.

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Computers and the Internet have changed the work environment of the world beyond imagination. Computers on taking over a major part of our lives, all our data has got transferred from records and ledgers to computers. Though this kind of shift in working has reduced the physical burden on workers it has also increased the chances of data theft. People involved in stealing data or harming the systems are knowledgeable people with wrong intentions known as Hackers. There are different types of hackers. Let's take a look at how many types of hackers are there and the types of hacker attacks and techniques.

Who is a Hacker?

A hacker is ideally a person who is skilled in information technology. He uses his technical knowledge to overcome an obstacle or sometimes even achieve a goal within a computerized system. However, in recent times, the term hacker is always associated with a security hacker - someone who is always on the lookout for ways to acquire and exploit sensitive personal, financial and organizational information, which is otherwise not accessible to them. Legitimate figures often use hacking for legal purposes.

How does Hacking Work?

Hackers are highly skilled in breaching securities to gain unauthorized access to phones, tablets, computers, IoT devices, networks, or the networking system of an entire organization. They are generally very proficient in exploiting weaknesses in network security, taking advantage of the same. These weaknesses can be technical or social in nature.

Technical weaknesses: Hackers are extremely talented in exploiting software vulnerabilities or weak security practices. They do this to gain unauthorized access or even sometimes to inject malware that would crumple the entire system.

Social weaknesses: This kind of social engineering is done to convince those with privileged access to click on malicious links, open infected files, or reveal personal information. This allows them access to otherwise hardened infrastructures.

Types Of Hackers

Computers and the Internet have changed the work environment of the world beyond imagination. Computers on taking over a major part of our lives, all our data has got transferred from records and ledgers to computers. Though this kind of shift in working has reduced the physical burden on workers it has also increased the chances of data theft. People involved in stealing data or harming the systems are knowledgeable people with wrong intentions known as Hackers. There are different types of hackers. Let's take a look at how many types of hackers are there and the types of hacker attacks and techniques.

1) White Hat Hackers

White hat hackers are types of hackers who're professionals with expertise in cybersecurity. They are authorized or certified to hack the systems. These White Hat Hackers work for governments or organizations by getting into the system. They hack the system from the loopholes in the cybersecurity of the organization. This hacking is done to test the level of cybersecurity in the organization. By doing so, they identify the weak points and fix them to avoid attacks from external sources. White hat hackers work per the rules and regulations the government sets. White hat hackers are also known as ethical hackers.

Motives & Aims: The goals of these types of hackers are helping businesses and an appetite for detecting gaps in networks' security. They aim to protect and assist companies in the ongoing battle against cyber threats. A White Hat hacker is any individual who will help protect the company from raising cyber crimes. They help enterprises create defences, detect vulnerabilities, and solve them before other cybercriminals can find them.

2) Black Hat Hackers

Black hat hackers are also knowledgeable computer experts but with the wrong intention. They attack other systems to get access to systems where they do not have authorized entry. On gaining entry they might steal the data or destroy the system. The hacking practices these types of hackers use depend on the individual's hacking capacity and knowledge. As the intentions of the hacker make the hacker a criminal. The malicious action intent of the individual cannot be gauged either can the extent of the breach while hacking

Motives & Aims: To hack into organizations' networks and steal bank data, funds or sensitive information. Normally, they use the stolen resources to profit themselves, sell them on the black market or harass their target company.

3) Gray Hat Hackers

The intention behind the hacking is considered while categorizing the hacker. The Gray hat hacker falls between the black and white hat hackers. They are not certified, hackers. These types of hackers work with either good or bad intentions. The hacking might be for their gain. The intention behind hacking decides the type of hacker. If the intention is for personal gain, the hacker is considered a gray hat hacker.

Motives & Aims: The difference is, they don't want to rob people nor want to help people in particular. Rather, they enjoy experimenting with systems to find loopholes, crack defenses, and generally find a fun hacking experience.

4) Script Kiddies

It is a known fact that half knowledge is always dangerous. The Script Kiddies are amateurs types of hackers in the field of hacking. They try to hack the system with scripts from other fellow hackers. They try to hack the systems, networks, or websites. The intention behind the hacking is just to get the attention of their peers. Script Kiddies are juveniles who do not have complete knowledge of the hacking process.

Motives & Aims: One standard Kiddie Script attack is a DoS (Denial of Service) or DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service). This simply means that an IP address is flooded with too much excessive traffic that it collapses. Consider several Black Friday shopping websites, for instance. It creates confusion and prevents someone else uses the service.

5) Green Hat Hackers

Green hat hackers are types of hackers who learn the ropes of hacking. They are slightly different from the Script Kiddies due to their intention. The intent is to strive and learn to become full-fledged hackers. They are looking for opportunities to learn from experienced hackers.

6) Blue Hat Hackers

Blue Hat Hackers are types of hackers who're similar to Script Kiddies. The intent to learn is missing. They use hacking as a weapon to gain popularity among their fellow beings. They use hacking to settle scores with their adversaries. Blue Hat Hackers are dangerous due to the intent behind the hacking rather than their knowledge.

7) Red Hat Hackers

Red Hat Hackers are synonymous with Eagle-Eyed Hackers. They are the types of hackers who're similar to white hackers. The red hat hackers intend to stop the attack of black hat hackers. The difference between red hat hackers and white hat hackers is that the process of hacking through intention remains the same. Red hat hackers are quite ruthless when dealing with black hat hackers or counteracting malware. The red hat hackers continue to attack and may end up having to replace the entire system setup.

Above are 7 types of hackers broadly referred to in the cybersecurity world.

The three types of hackers listed below work in different capacities.

Government appoints hackers to gain information about other countries. These types of hackers are known as State/Nation sponsored hackers. They use their knowledge to gain confidential information from other countries to be well prepared for any upcoming danger to their country. The sensitive information aids in being on top of every situation but also in avoiding upcoming danger. They report only to their governments.

9) Hacktivist

These types of hackers intend to hack government websites. They pose themselves as activists, so known as a hacktivist. Hacktivists can be an individual or a bunch of nameless hackers whose intent is to gain access to government websites and networks. The data gained from government files accessed are used for personal political or social gain.

10) Malicious insider or Whistleblower

These types of hackers include individuals working in an organization who can expose confidential information. The intent behind the exposure might be a personal grudge against the organization, or the individual might have come across illegal activities within the organization. The reason for exposure defines the intent behind the exposure. These individuals are known as whistleblowers.

Conclusion

Information is widely available over the internet. Keen individuals can learn and adapt to them immediately. The intent behind hacking is what sets the hackers apart. The knowledge is used for harming individuals or governments or for personal gain, which makes hackers dangerous. The types of hacker attacks vary from organization to organization. The intensity and type of attack are dependent on the hackers' ability to find the loophole and penetrate the security system. This has therefore put a lot of pressure on all organizations to always be up to date with their Cybersecurity precautions.

So, have you made up your mind to make a career in Cyber Security? Visit our Postgraduate Certificate Program in Cybersecurity for further help. It is the first program in offensive technologies in India and allows learners to practice in a real-time simulated ecosystem that will give them an edge in this competitive world.

Also Read

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Types Of Hackers Based On Their Intent | Who Are Ethical Hackers? | UNext

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Computers and the Internet have changed the work environment of the world beyond imagination. Computers on taking over a major part of our lives, all our data

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When it comes to types of hackers, there are multiple different types. Black hat hackers are illegal, unethical, and are hacking people with malicious intent and to steal their information. White hat hackers are legal, ethical, and work for companies to look through their security systems and make them better. They look for any spots that a black hat hacker could take advantage of, and fix it. Gray hat hackers are in the middle. They walk the line of being legal or illegal and ethical or unethical. Some gray hat hackers do it just for fun, and do not do anything with the information they find. On the other hand, there are gray hat hackers that find information and then do use it in an unethical way.

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Hacker Types: Black Hat, White Hat, and Gray Hat Hackers

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What are the three main types of hackers?

Hackers fall into three general categories: black hat hackers, white hat hackers, and gray hat hackers. Although hackers are often associated with exploiting vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to computers, systems, or networks, not all hacking is malicious or illegal.

In its purest sense, hacking is simply the application of computer skills to solve a particular problem. There are many different types of hackers, and a lot of hacking activities are beneficial, because they uncover programming weaknesses that help developers improve software products.

Here are the three hacking hat types explained:

Black hat hackers

Black hat hackers are cybercriminals that illegally crack systems with malicious intent. Seeking to gain unauthorized access to computer systems is the definition of black hat hacking. Once a black hat hacker finds a security vulnerability, they try to exploit it, often by implanting a virus or other type of malware such as a trojan.

Ransomware attacks are another favored ploy that black hat hackers use to extort financial gains or breach data systems.

Black hat hackers are also referred to as malicious hackers, unethical hackers, and crackers.

White hat hackers

White hat hackers, also known as ethical security hackers, identify and fix vulnerabilities. Hacking into systems with the permission of the organizations they hack into, white hat hackers try to uncover system weaknesses in order to fix them and help strengthen overall internet security.

Many cybersecurity leaders started out as white hat hackers, but the vital role played by ethical hacking is still widely misunderstood, as made clear by a recent ethical hacking case in Germany.

White hat hackers working on a team can be referred to as sneakers, hacker clubs, red teams, or tiger teams.

Gray hat hackers

Gray hat hackers may not have the criminal or malicious intent of a black hat hacker, but they also don't have the prior knowledge or consent of those whose systems they hack into. Nevertheless, when gray hat hackers uncover weaknesses such as zero-day vulnerabilities, they report them rather than fully exploiting them. But gray hat hackers may demand payment in exchange for providing full details of what they uncovered.

What's the difference between white, black, and gray hat hackers?

The main difference between white, black, and gray hat hackers is the motivation or intent that each type of hacker has when they break into computer systems. White hat hackers probe cybersecurity weaknesses to help organizations develop stronger security; black hat hackers are motivated by malicious intent; and Gray hat hackers operate in the nebulous area in between - they're not malicious, but they're not always ethical either.
White, black, and gray hat hackers have different motivations when breaking into systems.
Other types of hackers

Although nearly all hackers fall into one of the three categories (black hat, white hat, or gray hat), there are other types and sub-types of hackers.

Hacker type

Threat level

Description

Blue hat hackers

There are two types of blue hat hackers: security experts and revenge seekers. The former are non-malicious and employed by companies to help improve their security systems by conducting penetration tests. The latter are experienced hackers that use their skills for personal revenge against an individual or organization - without much care for money or fame.

Purple hat hackers

Purple hat hackers train their skills by hacking their own computer as an exercise. This entails using one PC to hack another PC that they own, then assessing their hacking techniques. Because purple hat hackers are practicing in a controlled environment for learning purposes, they pose little threat to anyone outside of themselves.

Red hat hackers

Also known as vigilante hackers, red hat hackers are motivated by a desire to fight back against black hat hackers, but they do this by infiltrating black hat communities on the dark web and launching hacking attacks against their networks and devices. Unlike white hat hackers, red hat hackers are not opposed to aggressive tactics, like destroying computing resources.

Green hat hackers

Green hat hackers are "green" in the sense that they're inexperienced and may lack the technical skills of more experienced hackers. At this amateur level, they may not intentionally want to cause harm, but may accidentally do so. Green hat hackers may rely on phishing and other social engineering techniques to bypass security systems.

Hacktivists

Hacktivists are activists that engage in "ethical hacking." Primarily, these hackers gain unauthorized access into systems of governments or organizations and expose secrets. Though hacktivists are motivated by what they consider just causes or values, the fallout of their attacks can still harm those who do not align with their ideologies.

Script kiddies (amateur hackers)

"Script kiddies" is slang for amateur hackers who lack the technical skills needed to create their own hacking programs or conduct sophisticated attacks, such as SQL injections, so they use scripts created by others. Despite being novices, script kiddies are still dangerous - especially since they often don't fully understand the damage they can do with the pre-created programs they use.

Whistleblowers

Whistleblowers do damage to the organizations they work for by leaking sensitive data. The specific motivation can vary widely, but typically they seek to expose the illegal or unethical activity of their targets. Some aim to expose financial fraud, workplace violations, or harassment. Others tackle government corruption.

Because their cause may not always align with others, whistleblowers are often controversial figures. Some deem them heroes, while others consider them public enemies.

Botnet hackers

Botnet hackers turn scores of infected devices into malware-laden zombies, which they control remotely and use to infect other devices. With a large enough botnet, these attackers can send large-scale spam and malware campaigns, or carry-out devastating DDoS attacks. Using a mirai botnet, hackers can seize control of a network of smart devices.

Cryptohackers

Cryptohackers steal cryptocurrency by manipulating crypto coin exchanges or DAOs. Coin exchanges operate like marketplaces, where coin holders can buy, sell, or exchange their crypto for other currencies. Cryptohackers use phishing schemes to lure their victims into scam coin exchanges and use software tools to steal digital currency.

Cryptojackers

Mining cryptocurrency is lucrative, but the process is time-consuming and expensive because it requires lots of computing power. Cryptojackers bypass the costs of crypto mining by infecting unsuspecting devices to perform complex mining processes, which then send the product (cryptocurrency) back to the hacker.

Cyberterrorists

Cyberterrorists use hacking to disrupt a country's infrastructure or networks to advance an ideology. They can use computer hacking to burden critical systems, like electricity, finance, and transportation networks. Cyberterrorism can also be used to spread fear, misinformation, or propaganda. These attackers often finance their agenda by extorting large sums of cryptocurrency.

Elite hackers

As the name suggests, elite hackers are the top-tier of hackers. They usually have years of hacking experience behind their skills and expertise. Often switching between white and black hat hacking, elite hackers are innovators that both spot cyberattacks before others and create the latest cybersecurity threats.

Gaming hackers

Gaming hackers target online gamers' login credentials, payment details, and other account information, or use DDoS attacks to shut down their accounts. Credits accumulated by professional gamers for in-game features and gear are a form of currency - and therefore, a sought-after prize for gaming hackers. Considering the prize pool for some eSports can be in the millions, this form of cyberattack is big business.

Malicious insiders

Like a whistleblower, malicious insiders operate from within an organization - but their goal is personally motivated. These hackers often have a personal vendetta against their target and aim to get revenge by exposing organizational data or attacking their network. Motivations can vary from not getting an expected raise to proving flaws in network security.

State-sponsored hackers

State-sponsored hackers are employed by governments to hack the systems of rival governments. Like soldiers in digital warfare, these hackers may be required to monitor for incoming threats or to steal confidential information. Though technically illegal, state-sponsored hackers act with a degree of impunity since they operate on behalf of their government.

Ways to protect against hackers

Prevention is key for staying safe from hackers. Here are some tried and tested ways to help protect against hackers:

Download files only from trusted sources: Hackers use file downloads from websites and emails as one of their main methods for infecting devices with malware. Don't click downloads, links, and attachments from unfamiliar or suspicious sources.

Use antivirus software: Standard-issue antivirus like Windows Defender may not be enough to detect and remove the very latest malware threats. Use the best antivirus software to help ensure your device is protected, and watch out for signs of phone hacking.

Install a VPN: The best internet security software should include a VPN, which hides your true IP address and encrypts your internet connection to prevent hackers locating you or intercepting your data. For maximum protection, complement a VPN with a firewall.

Create strong passwords and enable 2FA: Strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) will make it much harder for hackers to crack into your accounts and profiles using brute force attacks and other methods.

Avoid public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi is often unsecured, making it easier for hackers to exploit and leech user data, or gain back-door access to devices. If you must use public Wi-Fi, always connect via a VPN, and protect yourself with one of the best security apps for iPhone or Android.

Install updates regularly: Hackers are always discovering new exploits to attack your devices and program. Regularly installing updates will help ensure that you're protected against the latest hacker threats.

Backup important files: If a computer hacking episode requires you to reformat your system, you'll have to part with all your files and data. Having a backup of your important files enables you to pick up where you left off.

Keep your digital life safe from hackers

Despite the best efforts of white hats, malicious hackers are always finding new weaknesses to exploit. That's why having an extra layer of protection that defends against all kinds of online threats is so important.

Avast One is comprehensive cybersecurity protection that's built on top of an award-winning threat detection network. With automatic updates to help you stay ahead of hackers and heuristic malware detection to identify new and emerging threats, Avast One offers unparalleled online security.

Secure your digital life against intruders with a firewall, built-in VPN, password protection, and other advanced privacy features. Install Avast One today.

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Hacker Types: Black Hat, White Hat, and Gray Hat Hackers

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Learn the difference between black hat, white hat, and gray hat hackers, as well as other hacker types including green, blue, red, and more.

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Organizations can balance their information security as well as the needs of their employees. On top of communicating with their company and keeping everyone aware of the situations, organizations also need to implement training for their employees. It should teach them what to do if another attack happens.

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Managing Human Risk Requires More Than Just Awareness Training

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Some of the emerging threats consists of cloud attacks, ransom attacks, and phishing attacks. Organizations can prepare for them by having a plan in place, using a firewall, and backing up their data regularly.

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The total dependency of the world on the Internet for even the most basic things has made data security the need of the hour. Now, if we look at the amount of sensitive information the Internet carries, from your home address to your credit card details, cybersecurity challenges becomes indispensable.

According to Check Point Research, global cyberattacks increased by 38% in 2022, compared to 2021. This increase was driven by a number of factors, including the rise of remote work, the increasing use of cloud computing, and the growing sophistication of cybercriminals.

Likewise, in 2022, data breaches dominated the headlines. Companies from Twitter to Microsoft to American Airlines were the victims of data breaches as cybercriminals continued to wreak havoc in enterprises, disrupting business continuity and hindering business success. Data breaches like these impacted 422.1 million people last year, a 41.5% increase over 2021, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC).

What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. Cybersecurity challenges are the threats and vulnerabilities that organizations face in protecting their information and systems from these threats.
Table of Contents:
Top 10 Emerging Cybersecurity Challenges Industry is Facing in 2023
Following are the top 10 cybersecurity challenges that the industry is facing today:
1. Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware is one of the biggest cyber security challenges that concerns us in the digital world. In the year 2021- 2022, there were an unparalleled number of ransomware attacks, and this trend is still to continue in 2023.

As the word ransom suggests, it's hacking into the user's sensitive information and denying them access to it until a ransom amount is reimburse to the hackers. As depicted in the below image:

Now, businesses that need access to their data to run their daily operations suffer a lot from this breach, highlighting a serious emphasis that needs to be given by them on their data security strategies.

As per a study from ASTRA IT, 1.7 million ransomware attacks occur every day, with a ransomware attack occurring every 2 seconds. As much as $1.85 million was lost in the average ransomware assault. The WannaCry ransomware outbreak cost the National Health Service (NHS) an estimated $100 million.

Besides this, more and more attacks were reported after the pandemic since every information circulated was using the means of digitalization.

"Still, ransomware attacks are not new. Businesses, governments, and even individuals have been victims of ransomware attacks for over three decades now" - as explained in the detailed article of What is Ransomware? By . Sagenext

According to the Financial Trend Analysis report by Fincen (Financial Crime Enforcement Network), suspicious activity related to ransomware SARs in the first half of 2021 estimated $590 million exceeded the total reported for all of 2020 ($416 million).

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Doppel Paymer, Clop, Bit Paymer, Conti, DarkSide, and many more are the top cybersecurity ransomware variants that still remain active in the cyber world. So, a close watch out for ransomware attacks is a critical aspect for businesses.

2. IoT Attacks (Internet of Things)

The Internet of Things or IoT is the most vulnerable to data security threats. Every digital, mechanical, computing smart device that can transmit data over the internet network are termed as IoT such as; laptop and mobile phones.

In order to access your personal device that contains your sensitive information, hackers use devices that surround you, such as wearable smartwatches, baby monitors, smart fridges, or smart lights.

The IoT sector is the primary target for hackers looking to access users' sensitive data. In 2023, the number of connected devices is predicted to increase to more than 14.4 billion. IoT Analytics claims that by 2025, there will be more than 27 billion gadgets online simultaneously. Around 12 billion devices were online by 2022, and this figure will rise to 25 billion by the end of 2030, as per the data.

As a result it will open a wide space for the hackers to attack the compromised data security and use them for malicious purposes.
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3. Cloud Attacks

Cloud computing is the modern era of new technology that revolutionized the physical world of data storage. Businesses from large to small now utilize cloud services for storing their user-sensitive information.

On the one hand, where adoption of it has reduced the cost and increased efficiency, it has also opened possibilities for data security breaches.

The main reason for compromised data security is the lack of encryption, authentication, and improper configuration of the cloud setups. So, they need to maintain many considerations for cloud security and data protection , to keep the sensitive information intact.

A recent case of Microsoft 2021 had made headlines, where the enterprise suffered a denial of service attack that made it almost impossible to access their cloud data service. In their official statement, Microsoft stated that the attack lasted for 10 mins and they were able to dodge the attack. "Business as usual for Azure customers despite 2.4 Tbps DDoS attack" - said Amir Dahan ( Senior Program Manager)

Still, it gives a fact check on how even the leading companies like Microsoft that practices strict cybersecurity protocols face cloud attack. In light of this, even small firms and professionals who use cloud setups are not-at-all exempted from these attacks.
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4. Phishing Attacks

A phishing attack is a type of social engineering attack that targets users' login details and credit card information. In contrast to ransomware, here the information benefits the hacker. Gmail is a Google service that is used across the board for almost everything from business to personal purposes.

Now, whenever you open your mail account, you might come across a spam folder that consists of emails that the platform recognizes as a threat to your data security. These spam emails consist of thousands of phishing attacks that your mailing partner recognizes and warns you about the potential cyber threat that it carries. Yet, some of the communications still make it to your inbox where you might fall into a trap.

Officially, Google released a statement of how it blocks more than 100 million phishing emails on an everyday basis . It further emphasized how most of the communications were trying to impersonate government officials, authorities, agencies, or websites in order to sound more reliable to mail recipients.
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5. Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Attacks

Digital currency or wallets are one of the prime targets of hackers and have posed many cybersecurity challenges for data security. Many blockchain attack variants such as Eclipse, Poly, DDOS, and Sybil made the headlines possessing a great vulnerability to the digital wallets. This is the main reason why blockchain technology is aiming to improve its cloud security with effective measures.

BBC reported in December 2021 that the BitMart exchange lost $150 million due to hackers that it became almost impossible for them to recover the investors amount. Furthermore, 177 unique convertible currencies digital wallet addresses were used for ransomware attacks as reported by the Fincen report. This in turn poses a great cybersecurity challenge for the market regulators to safeguard their investors data from such threats.

Hence, more possible cryptocurrency and blockchain attacks are likely to occur at an alarming rate in forthcoming years.

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6. Mobile Banking Malware

This initially appears to be a huge obstacle for anyone concerned about ATM skimming. Also, new methods are being developed that will allow thieves to access bank accounts via smartphones and tablets. Similar to its predecessor, mobile banking malware steals login information, credit card numbers, and other private user data by taking advantage of vulnerabilities in devices.

Cybercriminals can empty your bank account within 30 minutes if their tactic remains successful. As a result, this has become one of the riskiest problems that banks will encounter in the year 2023.

7. AI Attacks

In 2023, consumers and businesses are likely to use AI even more. This could be good or bad for cybersecurity. AI can be used in the day-to-day work of security teams to do things like support security operations center analysts, find and stop threats, and manage and find fraud.

In 2021, nearly 68% of study respondents said artificial intelligence (AI) could easily be used for impersonation and spear-phishing attacks against their companies. It also noted that AI can boost ransomware, posing a threat to IT security.

Threat actos can use AI nefariously. To enumerate, attackers can run malware on AI to test its efficacy, poison AI models with inaccurate data, and map legitimate enterprise AI use to improve the success of their attacks. AI-enabled attacks, such as deep fakes, are becoming increasingly realistic for social engineering attacks.

8. Insider Attacks

Although most of the company's cybersecurity challenges come from the outside, there are times when the danger comes from within. Data that should be kept confidential may be leaked by employees, which competitors may use.

Every day, about 2,500 internal security holes are found in US businesses. Insider threats ensue every year to more than 34% of companies worldwide. 66% of organizations believe that attacks from the inside are more likely than attacks from the outside.

As a result it can bring significant losses for the company's finances and reputation. Monitoring the data and traffic coming into and going out of the network is a viable solution for mitigating these threats to computer security. The risk of insider assaults can lessen by installing firewall devices that route data through a centralized server or limiting access to files depending on work duties.

9. Social Engineering Attack

Humans can be socially engineered to give personal information. Fraudsters use people's natural curiosity or trust, and voice manipulation is an example of advanced social engineering. An individual's voice (from a voicemail or social media post) influence phone friends and ask for a credit card or personal information.

As per ZD NET, over 700 social engineering attacks happen annually against an organization. Costing businesses an average of $130,000 due to lost revenue or destroyed data, social engineering attacks are a serious threat.
Types of Social Engineering Attacks:
10. The Man in the Middle Attack

Man-in-the-Middle attacks occur when attackers intercept two-party traffic-examples of criminals interfering with public Wi-Fi and a person's device. The lack of a secure Wi-Fi connection allows cyber attackers to examine a victim's data without being caught.

In 2016, the SSL Store reported that about 95% of HTTPS servers were vulnerable to MitM(Man in the Middle) attacks.

35% of exploits resulted in MitM(Man in the Middle) attacks, according to IBM. Unfortunately, only 10% of businesses use HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) to protect themselves from MitM(Man in the Middle) attacks.

A study found that 43% of businesses were negligent in mobile security, making them vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks.

How to Deal with the Cybersecurity Challenges of 2023

Conclusion!

Defenders will still need to be attentive in 2023, as it will be a power-up version of 2022. Businesses can harden their networks against data security threats with the right strategies - however, existing approaches aren't always sufficient.

Fortunately, there are ways by which you can still protect your data security. Just like how Google in this tutorial illustrates on how to protect your Gmail account from phishing and malware attacks.

To summarize, by presenting 10 major challenges of Cybersecurity, we hope to increase awareness about upcoming cybersecurity threats and emerging trends.

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10 Biggest Cybersecurity Challenges Industry is Facing in 2023

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Cybersecurity challenges that organizations face. Understanding these challenges to take steps to mitigate the risks & protect themselves from attack.

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The difference between cyber security and information security is that cyber security focuses entirely on computers, while information security does not. Cyber security is a type of information security.

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Contributor, Deputy Editor

It's easy to confuse information security (infosec) and cybersecurity, as the two areas overlap in many ways. In fact, cybersecurity is a subset of information security. However, the fields are not quite the same, with each featuring distinct specialties and requiring different skill sets.

Even within the infosec and cybersecurity communities, the distinction between these terms is hotly debated and can be blurry. Many people use "information security" and "cybersecurity" interchangeably. However, understanding the textbook definitions of these terms can help you gain a deeper understanding of how the disciplines compare and interact.

Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between information security and cybersecurity.

Information Security vs. Cybersecurity

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recognizes information security and cybersecurity as separate career areas. That said, there is certainly an overlap between the two. Below are the key definitions and distinctions of each.

What Is Information Security?

According to NIST, infosec's core function is to safeguard information and information systems against unauthorized access and use. Unauthorized use as NIST defines it can include destroying, modifying or disclosing data, as well as disrupting the functioning of an information system.

The field aims to provide confidentiality, integrity and availability-three guiding principles that form a model commonly referred to as the CIA triad among industry professionals.

One way to understand infosec as compared to cybersecurity is to view the field as an umbrella term that includes all data, not just data stored within cyberspace. Infosec extends its protective umbrella not only over digitally-stored data, but also other forms of data, such as paper-based information. This demonstrates how cybersecurity is a type of information security, but the two fields are not identical.

Information security teams create and implement policies and systems to protect information. For large organizations, strict security systems and standard operating procedures are required to protect customers.

What Is Cybersecurity?

Living in the 21st century means much of an organization's data is stored in computer systems and networks. This is the case for nearly every industry, and the information must be protected to a high degree. Information security professionals with a cybersecurity focus are responsible for securing this digital data.

NIST defines cybersecurity as protecting, preventing damage to and restoring electronic communications services and systems. This includes the information stored in these systems, which cybersecurity professionals work to protect.

Cybersecurity covers everything that has to do with electronic systems and communications. Within the field of cybersecurity are subcategories that entail further specialization. These include areas such as cloud, network, endpoint, and critical infrastructure security.

The Biggest Differences

Confusion between information security and cybersecurity can occur since much of the information we want to store, protect and transmit exists in cyberspace. While cybersecurity is a part of information security, certain aspects of information security are not included within the realm of cybersecurity.

Information security is an overarching term for creating and maintaining systems and policies to protect any information-digital, physical or intellectual, not just data in cyberspace.

An information security expert may develop the means of data access by authorized individuals or establish security measures to keep information safe. Cybersecurity, on the other hand, focuses on protecting information from cyberattacks and threats such as ransomware and spyware.

How Information Security and Cybersecurity Overlap

Cybersecurity leader and SimSpace CISO Jordan Wigley points out, "While there are technically differences between infosec and cybersecurity, many industry professionals have begun using the terms interchangeably. It is important to pay attention to the context in which the terms are used in order to understand the true meaning by an individual or publication."

It's understandable that information security and cybersecurity are often treated as synonymous, since these fields overlap in many ways. In addition to having similar security practices, these disciplines also require similar education and skills.

"While there are technically differences between infosec and cybersecurity, many industry professionals have begun using the terms interchangeably. It is important to pay attention to the context in which the terms are used in order to understand the true meaning by an individual or publication." -Jordan Wigley, SimSpace CISO

Shared Security Practices

The most significant overlap between infosec and cybersecurity is that they use the CIA (confidentiality, integrity and availability of information) triad model to develop security policies.

The first of the triad is confidentiality, ensuring that information is only accessed and modifiable by authorized users. From a consumer perspective, for example, we expect online retailers to store and protect our data such as credit card information, home addresses and other personal information.

Second, the integrity of information ensures that it has not been tampered with and is entirely reliable. Continuing with the online retailer example, the data transmitted between the retailer and your bank must be secure. Otherwise, there may be a discrepancy between the actual cost of your goods and the amount you paid.

Finally, availability of information means that the data is available when you need it. For example, if you need to know how much money you have in your bank account, you must be able to access that information.

Related Education and Skills

At a minimum, many careers in infosec and cybersecurity require a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information technology or a related field. These degrees prepare you with foundational knowledge and skills to help you land a job as an analyst, engineer, specialist or tester.

These careers also call for familiarity with technologies such as database user interface and query software, network monitoring software, virus protection and web platform development.

Common Careers

Many information security and cybersecurity careers use similar or interchangeable language in their job descriptions. This is because employers often want infosec professionals with a broad array of security skills, including those in cybersecurity.

Information Security Roles

We reference salary data from Payscale and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in this section.
Information Security Analyst

Career Overview: With so much of our valuable information stored on computers, information security analysts often perform similar tasks to cybersecurity analysts. These professionals are responsible for planning, implementing, upgrading and monitoring security measures to protect computer networks and information. They may also create and share reports about security metrics and data breaches.

Average Annual Salary: About $112,000

Information Security Specialist

Career Overview: An information security specialist's role is similar to that of an information security analyst. While day-to-day duties may vary depending on the specific position, these professionals are part of teams that develop and implement information risk management frameworks, standards and policies. They also participate in risk assessments and assist users in accessing databases.

Average Annual Salary: Around $82,000

IT Security Consultant

Career Overview: As an IT security consultant, you use your infosec experience to assess and recommend improvements to an organization's information security. Your responsibilities may include supporting, implementing and following up on data privacy improvements, identity access management systems, cybersecurity management and operations.

Average Annual Salary: Over $88,000

Cybersecurity Roles
Cybersecurity Analyst

Career Overview: Cybersecurity analysts focus on protecting data from cyberattacks. These professionals perform threat and incident detection and respond to data breaches. Depending on the employer, cybersecurity analysts may develop cybersecurity awareness training and forensic analysis of information systems.

Average Annual Salary: Around $81,000

Cybersecurity Engineer

Career Overview: A cybersecurity engineer's role is expansive, overseeing the development of cybersecurity procedures and policies. This job includes building and maintaining firewalls to ensure secure transmission of information, developing security controls to protect digital files and monitoring and responding to security breaches. If you're wondering how to become a cybersecurity engineer, start with a bachelor's degree or cybersecurity bootcamp.

Average Annual Salary: Around $102,000

Penetration Tester

Career Overview: Penetration testers hackers with good intentions whose efforts improve information protection practices. Through simulated internal and external cyberattacks, these professionals breach and exploit systems and gain access to sensitive information to identify vulnerabilities. They then design and suggest security solutions to address said vulnerabilities. Pen testers also find system weaknesses and suggest improvements to bolster defenses against malicious attacks.

Average Annual Salary: Around $94,000

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Information Security vs. Cybersecurity

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Information Security Vs. Cybersecurity: What's The Difference?

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It's easy to confuse information security (infosec) and cybersecurity, as the two areas overlap in many ways. In fact, cybersecurity is a subset of information security. However, the fields are not quite the same, with each featuring distinct specialties and requiring different skill sets. Even w