While discussing the importance of cybersecurity in Ireland, the Grant Thronton International Business Report from 2023 found out that cybersecurity remains a priority for many Irish businesses. The report revealed that almost half are planning to increase spending on cybersecurity in Ireland. (Source: Grant Thronton)
Take a look around, and you’ll notice that our daily lives rely on technology more than ever. From having near-instant access to information online to the modern comforts of smart home automation and the Internet of Things, it’s clear just how intertwined technology is with our everyday routines.
This makes cybersecurity incredibly important and explains why cybersecurity courses are expected to be in high demand in the coming years.
But what is cybersecurity, and just how serious are the threats today? Keep reading to learn more about one of the most critical aspects of our highly digital world.
What is cybersecurity?
Before we get into the finer details of cybersecurity, let’s start with the basics. So, what exactly is cybersecurity? Simply put, it’s all about using different methods, tools, and strategies to protect our digital world (from data and networks to devices) against unauthorised access, attacks, or damage.
Think of cybersecurity as a way to keep not just your personal or physical stuff safe but also your digital assets. This can mean protecting everything from personal info and restricted systems to crucial business data like plans, designs, and research.
When you take a cybersecurity course, you’ll explore how the digital world works and learn how to protect it from threats. You’ll get a clearer understanding of the different types of cyber risks and how to stop them.
Why is cybersecurity important?
When you grasp the size of the cybersecurity threats, you’ll see that cybersecurity analysts and experts are like knights in shining armour—though their armour might not be so shiny, considering all the threats they have to tackle every day.
Forbes reported that the coming years will bring a variety of cybersecurity challenges, like disruptions in supply chains, increased risks with smart devices, and a shortage of cybersecurity experts. (Source: Forbes)
Cybercrime Magazine predicts that by 2025, cybercrime will cost the world $10.5 trillion every year, and these costs are expected to grow by about 15% annually over the next four years. (Source: Cybercrime Magazine )
With the pandemic’s impact, the rise of cryptocurrency, and more people working remotely, criminals have more opportunities than ever to exploit vulnerabilities.
Benefits of cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is important because it protects the way we live. For instance, without cybersecurity, vital services like power and water could be easily disrupted, causing big problems in our everyday lives.
Implementing and maintaining a strong cybersecurity framework offers many benefits, such as:
- Protects businesses from cyberattacks and data breaches.
- Keeps data and networks secure.
- Prevents unauthorised access to systems.
- Helps recover faster after a security breach.
- Safeguards users and their devices.
- Ensures compliance with regulations.
- Supports ongoing business operations.
- Boosts trust and confidence in the company among customers, partners, developers, stakeholders, and employees.
How does cybersecurity work?
To understand how cybersecurity technology works, we can break it down into several key areas:
1. Application security: This focuses on protecting an organisation’s software and services from threats. It involves writing secure code, designing safe application structures, and ensuring data input is properly validated to prevent unauthorised access or changes.
2. Cloud security: This area ensures secure cloud architectures and applications for companies using services like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure.
3. Identity management and data security: This involves processes and frameworks to authenticate and authorise individuals accessing an organisation’s systems, along with securing data storage and using strong authentication methods like two-factor or multi-factor authentication.
4. Mobile security: With the increasing use of mobile devices, mobile security protects information on devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops from threats such as unauthorised access, loss, theft, malware, and viruses.
5. Network security: This includes tools and systems that protect a network from unauthorised access and other threats, ensuring the safety of organisational data and assets.
6. Disaster recovery and business continuity: This area focuses on preparing for and responding to non-human threats like power outages, natural disasters, and other incidents to ensure critical systems can continue running and recover quickly.
7. User education: Educating staff on cybersecurity basics is essential. Training employees on best practices, organisational policies, and how to recognise and report suspicious activities helps strengthen overall security.
Types of cybersecurity threats
Cybercrime is usually classified into three main types:
- Computer-assisted crimes: These are crimes where a computer helps commit the crime, like fraud or identity theft.
- Crimes targeting computers: Here, the computer itself is the target, such as hacking or spreading viruses.
- Incidental computer crimes: In these cases, the computer is used during the crime but isn’t the main focus, like storing illegal information.
Here are some common cyber threats:
- Cyberterrorism: Attacks aimed at causing harm and social disruption through computers and information technology for political reasons.
- Malware: Includes harmful software like ransomware, spyware, viruses, and worms that can block access, disrupt systems, or steal information.
- Trojans: Malicious programmes that disguise themselves as harmless files but open backdoors for cybercriminals once downloaded.
- Botnets: Networks of infected computers controlled by hackers to carry out large-scale attacks.
- Adware: Annoying software that shows unwanted ads and is often installed without permission.
- SQL injection: A type of attack that inserts malicious code into servers using SQL, allowing unauthorised access.
- Phishing: Fake emails or messages designed to trick people into giving away personal information or installing malware.
- Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack: Hackers intercept and steal information by placing themselves between two parties in an online transaction, often using unsecured public Wi-Fi.
- Denial of Service (DoS): Overloads a network or computer with traffic, making it unavailable to users.
Career opportunities in cybersecurity
With data breaches, hacking, and cybercrime on the rise, companies are turning more and more to cybersecurity experts to spot threats and protect their data. It’s no surprise, then that the cybersecurity market is expected to grow from $217 billion in 2021 to $345 billion by 2026, with an annual growth rate of 9.7%. (Source: Markets and Markets)
These are some of the job roles now in demand in cybersecurity in Ireland and other major European countries
Entry-level cybersecurity roles:
- Cybercrime analyst
- Cybersecurity specialist
- Incident and intrusion analyst
- IT auditor
Mid-level cybersecurity roles
- Cybersecurity analyst
- Cybersecurity consultant
- Penetration and vulnerability tester
Advanced-level cybersecurity roles
- Cybersecurity architect
- Cybersecurity engineer
- Cybersecurity manager
If you’re thinking about getting into cybersecurity in Ireland, there are plenty of jobs available. The key is making sure you’re a good match for these roles. Pursuing a specialised cybersecurity course like the Diploma in Cybersecurity from IBAT can show you have the right skills and specialised knowledge in areas like computer architecture, engineering, or management.
Learn more about IBAT’s Diploma in Cybersecurity.
A blog written by Serin Thankam Sam
