The Importance of Cyber Security

Cyber security is a set of technologies, procedures, and strategies aimed at preventing attacks, harm, and unauthorized access to networks, computers, programs, and data. Information technology protection or cyber security are other terms for the same thing (De Groot, J., 2020)

The Fundamental Value of Cyber Security

            Since government, military, business, financial, and medical entities capture, process, and store massive quantities of data on computers and other devices, cyber security is critical. Sensitive data, such as intellectual property, financial data, personal information, or other forms of data, can make up a large portion of that data. Unauthorized access or disclosure to that data can have serious implications. In the course of doing business, companies send confidential data through networks and to other devices, and cyber protection refers to the discipline devoted to safeguarding the data and the systems that process or store it. Companies and organizations, particularly those charged with safeguarding information related to national security, health, or financial data, must take measures to protect their confidential business and personnel information as the volume and complexity of cyber-attacks grows. The nation's top intelligence officials warned as early as March 2013 that cyber threats and digital surveillance pose the greatest threat to national security, surpassing even terrorism. 

The Difficulties in Cyber Security

            An organization's cyber security activities must be coordinated through the entire information infrastructure in order to be successful. All of the following are considered cyber elements:

Network protection is the method of safeguarding a network against unauthorized access, threats, and intrusions.

Application security: To ensure that apps are safe from attacks, they must be updated and tested on a regular basis.

Endpoint security: Remote access is an essential part of doing business, but it can also be a data protection vulnerability. The process of securing remote access to a firm's network is known as endpoint protection.

Data security: Data resides inside networks and applications. A separate layer of security is dedicated to the protection of company and consumer data.

Identity management is the process of determining the level of access that each person has to an organization.

Database and infrastructure security: Databases and physical equipment are present in any network. It's also important to safeguard these computers.

Many files are stored in digital worlds, or "the cloud." Protecting data in a fully online world poses a number of difficulties.

Mobile security: Cell phones and tablets present a wide range of security challenges on their own.

Disaster recovery/business continuity planning: Data must be secured and business must continue in the event of a breach, natural disaster, or other event. You'll need a strategy for this. Employees accessing the network or clients signing in to a business app are examples of end-users. Healthy habits (password changes, 2-factor authentication, and so on) are an integral part of cybersecurity education.

            The ever-evolving essence of security risks is the most complex problem in cyber security. Organizations and governments have traditionally concentrated the majority of their cyber security efforts on perimeter security, protecting only their most critical device components and defending against known threats. This method is no longer adequate, as threats evolve and adapt at a faster rate than organizations can keep up with. As a result, consulting companies advocate for more constructive and adaptive cyber security approaches.

Give One Example of Cyber Security

            According to Allison Grace Johansen, encryption can aid in the protection of data sent, received, and stored on a computer. Text messages on your phone, running logs on your fitness watch, and banking details sent via your online account are all examples. Encryption is the method of scrambling readable text so that only those with the hidden code, or decryption key, can read it. It contributes to the protection of confidential data.

What is the process of encryption?

            Encryption is the method of scrambling plain text, such as a text message or an email, into an unreadable format referred to as "cipher text." This aids in the protection of digital data stored on computer systems or distributed over a network such as the internet.

            When the message is read by the intended recipient, the data is converted back to its original format. This is referred to as decryption.

            Both the sender and the receiver must use a "secret" encryption key — a collection of algorithms that encode and unscramble data back to a readable format — to activate the letter.

What is the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption?

            Encryption keys are a collection of numbers that are used to encrypt and decrypt data. Algorithms are used to generate encryption keys. Each key is distinct and random.

            Asymmetric encryption and symmetric encryption are the two types of encryption schemes. Here's how they're dissimilar. 

Symmetric encryption encrypts and decrypts data with a single password.

For encryption and decryption, asymmetric encryption employs two keys. The data is encrypted using a public key that is shared by users. The data is decrypted using a private key that is not shared.

The Different Types of Encryption

            There are many forms of encryption, each designed to address specific requirements and security concerns. Here are some of the most popular encryption examples.

Data Encryption Standard (DES)

            A low-level encryption standard is the Data Encryption Standard. The norm was developed by the United States government in 1977. DES is largely redundant for securing confidential data due to advancements in technology and lower hardware costs.

DES (triple encryption)

            Triple DES encrypts data three times. The following is how it works: It encrypts, decrypts, and encrypts data three times — hence the term "triple." It improves on the original DES standard, which was deemed to be too poor for sensitive data encryption.

RSA 

            The name RSA is derived from the initials of three computer scientists' families. It encrypts with a strong and widely used algorithm. Because of its long key duration, RSA is commonly used for safe data transmission.

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

            As of 2002, the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is the government standard in the United States. AES is widely used around the world.

TwoFish

            Twofish is a free encryption algorithm that is considered one of the fastest in the world. It can be used in both hardware and software.

Using encryption via SSL 

            The “secure sockets layer” (SSL) is a method of encrypting data sent to and from a website that is used by the majority of legitimate websites. This prevents attackers from gaining access to the information when it is in transit.

What is the role of Information Communication Technology to Social Change?

            The potential of information and communication technology (ICT) to change society is undeniable. It is instrumental in achieving each of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by providing the required infrastructure. It also allows for financial inclusion via m-commerce and immediate connections with millions of people.

            The effect of information and communication technology (ICT) on business is especially important. It allows people to instantly exchange information and advice, as well as set up a low-cost online shop or website, significantly lowering the barriers to starting a company. As a result, it is a critical change enabler, and ICT maturity is closely linked to economic development.

            For-profit organizations have often used technological advancements to boost sales. Government agencies and non-governmental organizations, on the other hand, have failed to put them to good use for social good. The social business, a new form of business, is bridging the gap between the two.

            In the emergence and advancement of social enterprises, information and communication technology (ICT) plays a critical role. Social companies are motivated by a social cause, but they still want to make a profit. This combination enables them to make efficient use of technology for the greater good. 

ICT is helping to develop social enterprises in three ways:

Cost-effectiveness

      Financially, starting a company can be difficult.

      It can be especially overwhelming for social entrepreneurs, whose primary goal is to work with local communities rather than make a profit.

      It can be difficult to persuade investors to put their money into a social cause at the beginning.

 Adaptability

      We can communicate with millions of people instantly thanks to ICT infrastructure. 

      This means that social entrepreneurs' projects aren't confined to a single community; they can effectively reach out to the people they want to help and spread their message far and wide.

      Many social enterprises often use ICT solutions to streamline procedures, cut costs, and improve accuracy, allowing them to scale up more quickly.

Community

      Social companies operate from within the group to ensure long-term empowerment.

      As previously stated, ICT enables social entrepreneurs to maintain a clear and engaging connection with the people they wish to empower.

      Online networks are also an extremely effective means of disseminating business messages.

      While a social business's presence in the community is very much on the ground, its story can be told online via webpages and social media, reaching a global audience.

How do technological changes affect the economy of the country?

            Since the beginning of human civilization, technology has progressed and continues to evolve. In the 2000s, technology evolved into a system that contains massive amounts of data. In comparison to previous centuries, technological advancements have increased at an alarming rate in the last 100 years.

            Technology is the use of scientific methods and materials in the application of science, especially for industrial or commercial purposes. Technology is easy, and it can be easily understood, marketed, and purchased. As a result, transferring it from one company to another does not take much time or money. Technology is generally acknowledged in economics as the primary engine of economic development in nations, regions, and towns. Technological advancement enables more effective development of more and better goods and services, which is essential for growth.

            Technological advancement is a key factor in boosting the economy's growth rate at the macro level, as well as company income and market shares at the micro level. If a society can make technological advancements and represent them in their social and cultural lives, it is said to be developing socially. It appears that the economy has driven technological advancements, as technological advancements have resulted in developments that are closely related to the economy and follow economic relationships. Nations that are able to effectively disseminate technology and knowledge to all sectors of society will generate new job opportunities in their own countries. These new fields, on the other hand, necessitate a skilled workforce. As a result, appropriate changes to education policies are needed to ensure the production of human resources with the necessary skills to sustain economic growth. Capital accumulation, technological advancements, and population and labor force development are the three major indicators of economic growth. The fundamental dynamic of economic growth is capital accumulation. The presence of adequate investments is the most important condition for ensuring growth. And the return on an expenditure is contingent on the increase in savings generated by sales. Technological advancements can be characterized as the entire system of knowledge, organization, and techniques needed in the production processes as the second indicator of economic growth. This will undoubtedly result in labor and capital savings. A rise in the population and labor force is the final measure. A significant motivator of economic growth will be generated as the population grows, resulting in a corresponding rise in the labor force.