IT security is all about the network, internet, endpoint, API, cloud, application, container security, and more. It’s about setting up a series of security measures that work together to help protect our digital information.

Not too long ago, IT security at the end of a production process was a barrier. It had been sluggish. Today, businesses are searching for ways to build an integrated security system so they can adapt more easily and more effectively. Think of it as built-in protection, rather than a bolted-on security measure.

Role of IT

IT security is all about protecting the integrity of information technologies such as computer systems, networks, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access. In a world full of digital transformation, where every business is trying to reach its peak, the first step that needs to be undertaken is to adopt security solutions that can be initiated with design. This is how security can become part of the infrastructure and product lifecycle as early as possible. Implementing this can help security be both proactive and reactive.

A regular program of feedback and adaptation feeds on continuous security, often done by the use of automated checkpoints. Automation ensures fast and accurate feedback and does not slow down the product lifecycle. Integrating protection in this way also ensures that as the security environment evolves, updates and responses can be applied rapidly and holistically.

How important is IT Security for businesses?

Traditionally, IT security was focused on strengthening, maintaining, and controlling the perimeter of the data center, but today that perimeter is dissolving. We are radically changing the way we create, deliver, implement, and manage IT.

Public and hybrid clouds redistribute regulatory enforcement and protection obligations through growing vendors. The adoption of containers at scale involves new approaches to evaluate and upgrade application delivery. Android applications are distributed across several devices, and growing technology is moving from hardware to software.

The conventional ways to handle protection don’t keep up. Digital transformation is a leading trend that demands a change in security programs that must be continuous, integrated, and flexible in a digital world.

Types of IT security

Depending upon the type of information, the types of security can be broadly divided into three categories: Network, Endpoint, and Internet Security. Besides, as networks continue to expand with cloud and other new technologies, more types of IT security will emerge.

1. Network security

Security concerns of communication between all types of devices connected via network can be termed as ‘Network Security.’ Network security is restricting a user from getting into the network in any unwanted manner. It also ensures usability, reliability, and integrity are uncompromised for all devices when connected via a network. Network security is responsible for not letting the attacker get inside the network.

2. Endpoint security

Ensuring security at the device level can be termed as endpoint security. It may include protecting information at the sender and receiver’s end with devices such as mobiles, tablets, laptops, or even computers.

The hardware servers can also be considered as endpoints, depending on the usability of the content. They are implementing endpoint security blocks, access attempts, and other risky activities.

The endpoint protection features may include user privileged control, application controls, data controls, intrusion detection, and encryption. Encryption ensures the integrity of the data being transferred, while application security controls protect against dangerous downloads at the user’s end.

Besides, security departments typically install such software not only on the device in question but also on the company’s server. When security updates take place, the central server pushes the update to all endpoint devices to ensure a certain level of security consistency. Similarly, having a central login page allows companies to monitor who logs on and tracks any suspicious behavior.

3. Internet security

Internet security is all about securing any type of online data. It is designed to restrict internet traffic for malware as well as unwanted traffic. Internet security may come in the form of firewalls, antimalware, and antispyware.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TSL) are some of the important measures that are commonly used by businesses to maintain online transactions in terms of encryption and authentication.

The importance of IT Security can be simply measured with the perspective of its implementation in any industry. But there are terms where IT security can prove a threat to any organization. To know more about it, stay tuned until we sync-up in the next chapter.