Security is something we all think about from time to time. Whether it is an alarm for our car, a camera system for our home or business, or new locks and bolts for our storage sheds or garages.
Put simply, keeping our home, our family, our possessions, and our properties safe is paramount in terms of importance. It also, of course, is big business for insurance and security firms.
Without security, we would likely feel exposed, open to theft or intrusion, or in fear for our overall safety.
Why, then, is cybersecurity, not the first thing people think about when it comes to their online activity?
We do so much online these days and much of our personal business, information, and social interactions are either conducted virtually or stored in some online repository.
Whether it is important business such as transferring a mortgage down payment or frivolous fun such as playing a cryptoball shooter game, the internet is where many people spend their time and store their information.
Unfortunately, hackers know how much information and personal detail can be found online, which is why they consider this realm to be a treasure trove for their criminality.
For some hackers, it’s often the challenge of being able to access certain sites for the thrill of doing so.
Most, however, see hacking to steal and corrupt information to use for nefarious goals such as taking money from people, disrupting businesses, stealing identities for fraudulent purposes.
Hacking can even bring down entire online systems that people, both companies and consumers rely on.
Cybersecurity Is a Necessity, Not Just an Option. Ignore At Your Peril
With all this in mind, it is even more critical to examine the reason we all need top-quality cybersecurity, and why it is not something we can take or leave.
For many, of course, knowing what level of protection they may need, what software to install or what features their security may require is a minefield.
With so many firms offering the best online security software, it could be hard to know where to start, but there are cybersecurity guidelines for new starters online to help with this.
Before even selecting which cybersecurity software or level of protection is needed for your personal needs, you must first realize that it is not something that can be delayed. Much like car insurance, putting something off until later could be a costly decision.
Nobody necessarily thinks they will get in an accident, much like we often think hacking only troubles big corporations. Neither of these things is true, of course, making cybersecurity a necessity, not an option to arrange when you have the time.
Without wishing to be a scaremonger, (as I know not everyone gets hacked and not everyone is a victim of cybercrime any more than we are all victims of physical crimes). It only takes that one moment to get hacked and your information is gone or stolen for criminal purposes.
It can cost people hundreds of thousands, and data breaches are as upsetting in emotional cost as they are costly in financial terms.
Sophisticated Hackers Drive Real-Time Cybersecurity Improvements
Part of the issue when it comes to cybersecurity is the ever-changing and always-evolving threat posed by hackers.
With improved cybersecurity comes a more polished and determined hacker community, many of whom will not stop until they cause havoc and break the law in cyberspace.
As it happens, this surge of effort by hackers has a positive by-product for the cybersecurity industry: it forces those creating that online protection to up their game, so to say, and keep up with the hackers.
Being one step ahead, wherever possible, is something that has become big business for cybersecurity companies. Let’s face it, whether it is commercial software or one for personal use, consumers want the most cutting-edge cybersecurity they can afford, the best in class.
Without the best protection, the potential cost can be high. For companies, confidential customer information is at stake, for personal users, their private details, from banking to birthdays and more could be stolen, sold, misused or sold to those involved in cybercrime.
Much like casinos in Las Vegas end up hiring erstwhile card counters to work in their security teams. Many cybersecurity companies hire reformed hackers who can help them get a clear view into how these criminals think, act, program and breakthrough.
Knowing your enemy is one way of staying ahead of them. As much as companies may now invest in developing the best cybersecurity, the rewards in terms of protecting their company dataset, and that of their consumers, are hard to put a price on.
With hackers show no sign of relenting, be they the ones who do it for the challenge, or the more sinister and dangerous criminals who look to steal and destroy with their criminal activity.
It is safe to say that the drive for cybersecurity companies to create the best protection, and the need for corporations and individuals to use it, is similarly unlikely to slow or diminish.
Once this is certain, while there is information online, there will be people trying to steal it, and the result of their success is often misery and loss for those who fall prey to it.
Corporate Responsibility: Companies Must Continue Cybersecurity Vigilance
For companies, for example, their level of cybersecurity can make or break their success, how much people trust them, and whether they are able to avoid and protect against things such as data breaches or stolen personal information.
Delaying the prioritization of this cybersecurity is just not something corporations can afford to do and, in many cases now, it is a priority for any business with an online presence.
This is of particular importance for companies that store personal and financial data on a global scale, especially as the cost of worldwide cybercrime rises.
Consider your bank. When you use your online Internet banking or quickly look at your banking app as you sit on the train to work. One thing you don’t want to worry about is whether that institution is protecting your money and your personal data.
To be fair, most institutions now employ entire cybersecurity expert teams to protect against hacking.
We occasionally see news stories where company databases have been hacked and customer information corrupted or made vulnerable, which is precisely why cybersecurity is seen as such big business for big companies, and indeed smaller online traders.
The key to cybersecurity for companies (and individuals) is, of course, vigilance. As hackers and online criminals become more sophisticated in both their methods and their abilities, so must companies and private individuals still be one step ahead where and whenever possible.
Buying the best cybersecurity package is something that is worth the money, with prevention always being preferred to cure.
Returning to the overarching theme of this article, I think we can safely confirm that cybersecurity is a top priority for those who take online data protection and safety seriously.
From global banks to the online craft store, international consumer-led companies to local boutiques with an online shops…that should be all of us.
