Computer Security: Before describing the different types of computer security, it is essential to define the concept of security.
This concept refers to the areas of development and investigation of information technology infrastructures, making them safe to store information on computers and during their transmission in networks.
Types Of Computer Security
As a result of the immensity of risks inherent to Internet connections, security has become a concept that implies not only the quality of systems and services but also the prestige of the companies that provide them.
Today, almost all organizations depend, to a greater or lesser extent, on computer systems. That’s why security development is constantly evolving. The different types of computer security are:
Hardware Security
This type of security depends on the devices used to scan a system or control traffic on a network. Examples of these are hardware firewalls or antivirus and proxy servers.
But you can also find security modules for hardware, which serve to provide encrypted keys and are intended for critical-level functions such as encryption, decryption, and authentication for various types of systems.
Of all types of computer security, security systems of this type provide the highest and most robust levels of protection. In addition, they can also serve as an additional layer of security for high-value content systems.
Hardware security, however, also refers to applications with which computers and devices can be protected from any damage.
Suppose it is necessary to assess the security of a team’s hardware. In that case, it is essential to know the vulnerabilities that arise with its manufacture and evaluate other possible sources of risk. For example, the characteristics of code run in hardware programs and for information input and output devices that connect to the network.
The Security Of The Software
This type of security protects programs and applications against computer attacks and other risks so that any software can function correctly and efficiently, even with said risks.
It is necessary to guarantee the integrity of the data, its authentication, and its constant availability. It is a field of computer security that is considered new. The first documents and discussions on the subject appeared only in 2001.
Computer scientists and programmers have been working on security software development methods for a relatively short time.
Software problems involve several ramifications in the study of security. Such as implementation errors, buffer exhaustion (physical memory space used to temporarily store data while it is transferred from one place to another), design flaws, or poor response to possible errors, among other problems.
Despite everything, hackers try to enter computer systems using precisely the vulnerabilities described in the software. Therefore, any application that has an Internet connection output presents additional risks, which implies the adoption of higher security levels.
Software security gaps are more common in these cases, and the problem continues to grow with the increase in users and hackers.
Software security seeks to leverage engineering development and implementation of protection measures from the beginning of any program or application.
Network Security
This area of computer security refers to any activity whose objective is to protect a network. With this, it seeks to promote ease of use, increase reliability, preserve the integrity and maintain security in the transmission of all data.
An effective network security model addresses a range of threats and the methods by which connected devices are introduced or spread.
Types Of Threats
There are many types of threats to networks, most of which are spread across the Internet. Among the most common are:
- Viruses, worms, and Trojan horses.
- Hackers.
- Spyware and invasive advertising software.
- Zero-day attacks or zero hour attacks (attacks on system failures, which are still unknown to the user).
- Data theft or interception of data in communications.
- Attacks on the computer system.
- Theft of personal data and identity.
There are no one-size-fits-all solutions for the various types of threats, so varying levels of security are required when dealing with networks. That way, if one of the security levels is exceeded, others can stop the threat.
For this, it is recommended that the software be constantly updated to ensure that it is protected against any threat to the computer system.
Network security mechanisms generally consist of many components, and the ideal scenario is one where they all work synergistically to minimize maintenance and maintain high levels of protection.
Computer Security Components
They correspond to the following types:
- Antivirus and antispyware programs.
- Firewalls or anti-viruses block unauthorized access to a network.
- IP intrusion models or prevention, identifying threats that can spread quickly, such as zero-day or zero hour attacks.
- Design virtual private networks or VPNs, which provide a secure and remote access system for local systems.
The types of computer security will constantly be evolving. The innovation in equipment technology and its connection to the Internet are constant, as well as the threats that increase daily.
Also Read: How To Protect Your Company’s Cyber Attacks?
