Inhalt
What is cyber defense and why is it important?
Cyber defence includes all measures taken to protect systems, networks and data from unauthorized access, manipulation or destruction. This includes both technical measures (such as firewalls, encryption and intrusion detection systems) and organizational measures (training, security guidelines). The importance of cyber defense lies in the fact that cyber attacks are becoming more frequent, more complex and more targeted. Without adequate protection, companies can suffer data loss, financial damage and reputational damage. In addition, sensitive information such as personal data or business secrets are at great risk.
What types of cyberattacks are there?
There are a variety of cyberattacks, including:
- Phishing: Attackers fake legitimate communication in order to steal sensitive information such as passwords or credit card details.
- Ransomware: Malware that encrypts data or systems and demands a ransom for their release.
- Denial of service (DoS): Overloading a system with requests so that it is no longer accessible to legitimate users.
- Malware: Any malicious software that can infect systems in order to steal or damage data or gain control of the system.
- SQL injection: An attack in which malicious code is injected into a database via a poorly secured input mask in order to gain access to data.
- Man-in-the-middle (MitM): The attacker intercepts communication between two parties in order to steal or manipulate data.
How can you protect yourself from cyber attacks?
Several measures are required to protect against cyber attacks:
- Regular software updates: Software vulnerabilities are often gateways for attacks. Regular updates close these gaps.
- Strong password policies: Complex passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) increase security.
- Firewalls and anti-virus software: These systems block and detect known threats.
- Training: Employees should be trained in recognizing phishing attempts and other social manipulation techniques.
- Backup strategies: Regular backups enable recovery in the event of a ransomware attack or data loss.
- Network segmentation: Separation of critical systems to make it more difficult for an attack to spread within the network.
What should you do if you have been the victim of a cyber attack?
In the event of a cyber attack, the following steps should be taken immediately:
- Isolate systems: Disconnect affected systems from the network immediately to prevent the spread.
- Document security incidents: Document every observation and every step to facilitate follow-up.
- Inform IT security teams: Notify internal IT security departments or external service providers to analyze the attack and take countermeasures.
- Contact law enforcement authorities: Depending on the severity of the attack, local authorities or state cyber defense centers should be informed.
- Restore data from backups: If there is a current backup, the systems should be restored with it.
- Eliminate vulnerabilities: After analyzing the attack, vulnerabilities should be closed and protective mechanisms strengthened.
How does a penetration test work and why is it important?
A penetration test (pentest) simulates a targeted cyberattack on a system or network in order to uncover security vulnerabilities before real attackers can exploit them. So-called “ethical hackers” or security experts act in a similar way to criminals to find vulnerabilities. The test comprises the following steps:
- Planning: Definition of objectives, scope and permitted methods.
- Information gathering: Collecting data about the target environment to identify potential points of attack.
- Test the vulnerabilities: Exploiting identified vulnerabilities to see if a successful attack would be possible.
- Report: Detailed list of the vulnerabilities found, their severity and recommendations for remediation.
Pentests are important to proactively close security gaps and minimize the risk of real attacks.
What role does encryption play in cyber defense?
Encryption is a central element of cyber defense. It ensures that sensitive data remains unreadable to third parties even if it is intercepted or stolen. There are two main types of encryption:
- Symmetric encryption: The same key is used for encrypting and decrypting data. Faster, but less secure, as the key has to be transmitted.
- Asymmetric encryption: Uses a key pair – a public and a private key. The public key encrypts the data and only the private key can decrypt it. This is more secure, but slower.
Encryption protects data during transmission (e.g. via the internet) and at rest (e.g. on hard disks or in the cloud).
What is social engineering and how can you protect yourself against it?
Social engineering is a method by which attackers manipulate people to disclose confidential information or carry out actions that are detrimental to security (e.g. opening phishing emails). It is based on exploiting the trust or ignorance of users. Known tactics are:
- Phishing: Faking legitimate requests by e-mail in order to obtain access data or other information.
- Pretexting: The attacker pretends to be a trustworthy person in order to obtain information.
- Baiting: The enticement of victims with alleged rewards (e.g. free software or USB sticks).
Protective measures include awareness training, clear communication guidelines and technical controls such as email filters.
What role do cloud services play in cyber defense?
Cloud services are increasingly a target for cyberattacks as they store large amounts of sensitive data. At the same time, cloud providers often offer advanced security solutions, such as data encryption, multi-factor authentication and automatic backups. However, part of the responsibility also lies with the user:
- Access management: Only authorized persons should be granted access to sensitive data and systems in the cloud.
- Check the provider’s security guidelines: The cloud provider’s security measures must be checked and, if necessary, supplemented with your own protective measures.
- Backing up data in the cloud: A clear backup strategy should be in place to prevent data loss.
Integrating cloud security into a comprehensive cyber defense strategy is crucial to protect both data and business applications.
How do you develop an emergency plan for cyber attacks?
A cyber incident response plan includes clear procedures and responsibilities to respond quickly and effectively to an attack. The steps to develop such a plan include:
- Identification of threats: Analysis of potential threats and their impact.
- Definition of responsibilities: Definition of who takes which measures in an emergency.
- Training: Regular drills and training for all employees to ensure that the plan is known and adhered to.
- Prepared communication channels: Clearly defined internal and external communication strategies in order to act correctly in the event of a crisis.
- Regular review and update: The plan must be updated regularly to keep pace with the constantly changing threat situation.
Which legal regulations on cyber defense must companies comply with?
The legal regulations on cyber defense vary depending on the region and industry. In the EU, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR ) is the central regulation for the protection of personal data. Companies must ensure that they take sufficient technical and organizational measures to protect this data. Violations can lead to high fines. Other important regulations may be industry-specific, e.g:
- NIS Directive: Regulations on cyber security in critical infrastructures (energy, transportation, healthcare).
- IT Security Act: In Germany, this law regulates the security of IT systems, particularly in critical infrastructures.
- PCI-DSS: Regulations for companies that process credit card data.
Companies should always find out about the regulations that apply to them and ensure that they comply with them.
Zurück zur Übersicht des Glossars
