Digital security, also referred to as cybersecurity, is a multidimensional discipline aimed at safeguarding digital assets, data, and systems from unauthorized access, attacks, disclosure, or destruction. It encompasses a broad spectrum of technical, procedural, and strategic measures.
A blend of practices, tools, and strategies are used to protect digital identities, data, networks, and systems. Commonly used types of digital security include application security, cloud security, endpoint security, information security, and network security.
Three core elements of digital security summarize the primary objectives. Known as the CIA triad, these are:
- Confidentiality
Ensures that unauthorized individuals do not access sensitive information. This is often achieved through encryption, access controls, and secure communication protocols. - Integrity
Guarantees that data is accurate, complete, and reliable during its entire life cycle. Techniques include checksums, hashing, digital signatures, and version control systems. Blockchain is increasingly being utilized to ensure the integrity of data. - Availability
Assures that data, services, and systems are accessible when needed. This is achieved using load balancing, failover, redundancy, and business continuity strategies.
Types of digital security
Digital security is complex, with numerous types of controls, including the following.
Access control
Access control enforces rules that allow only authorized individuals to view and use specific applications, data, or systems. This data security process enforces policies that verify users are who they claim to be and ensures appropriate control access levels are granted.
Application security
Application security involves building digital security into applications during their development phase to prevent data or code within the application from being stolen or hijacked. Once applications are deployed, additional application security measures are employed to identify and patch vulnerabilities in software applications and application program interfaces (APIs).
Cloud security
Cloud security protects cloud-based applications, data, and infrastructure. It includes digital security tools designed specifically for software-as-a-service (SaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) environments.
Network security
Network security protects network infrastructure and the data it transports from unauthorized access to preserve its integrity and usability. It includes both hardware and software technologies and focuses on digital security that secures communication paths, network equipment, and the servers and client devices connected to them.
Endpoint security
Endpoint security provides digital security at endpoints or entry points of end-user devices, such as computers (e.g., workstations, laptops, file servers, and web servers), mobile devices, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It protects the corporate network when accessed via connected devices.
Internet of Things (IoT) security
IoT security offers specialized digital security to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data generated and exchanged by connected devices, such as printers, security cameras, industrial sensors, and robots.
Threat intelligence and response
Threat intelligence and response programs include a mix of technology, processes, and procedures that help organizations identify potential threats, inform decision-making, and launch the optimal mitigation measures. Threat intelligence is derived from the collection and analysis of information about potential threats, with data coming from a variety of sources.
Incident response involves preparing for and responding to security incidents and includes having a plan for detection, analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery.
Governance, risk management, and compliance
Governance programs provide structure around the selection, implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of policies and controls to minimize risk and assist with compliance with laws and industry regulations (e.g., General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)). Part of governance is deploying and managing digital security controls and policies to meet these stringent requirements.
Digital security best practices and solutions are also used for risk management to support continuous risk assessments and threat modeling.
Digital security applications
Commonly used digital security applications are outlined below.
Application data security
- Continuously monitor for emerging threats
- Enforce secure coding practices, including the adoption of secure coding standards (e.g., OWASP Top Ten) and regular code reviews with static and dynamic analysis and assessment to identify vulnerabilities
- Implement web application security, including protection against common web vulnerabilities, such as cross-site scripting (XSS) and cross-site request forgery (CSRF)
- Prevent unauthorized software installations
- Restrict executable files to an approved list
- Use web application firewalls (WAFs) for real-time threat detection and prevention
Authentication and access control
- Implement access control mechanisms, such as role-based access control (RBAC) for precise permissions and attribute-based access control (ABAC) for dynamic access policies
- Integrate biometrics into authentication systems
- Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO)
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)
- Threat intelligence automation
- Adaptive digital security measures
- Predictive analytics for proactive threat mitigation
- Rapid analysis of threat intelligence data
- Adjust security postures based on real-time assessments of risk and context
- Dynamically update access controls in response to changing risk levels
- Implement adaptive access policies that adjust based on user behavior and context
Blockchain
- Ensure the integrity of critical information
- Provide users with control over identity data
- Secure distributed ledger technologies against tampering
- Use for traceability to prevent counterfeiting
Data protection
- Strengthen database systems against unauthorized access
- Require end-to-end encryption, including for data-at-rest encryption, database encryption, and full-disk encryption for sensitive data
- Tokenize sensitive data to replace sensitive information with non-sensitive equivalents
- Use data masking to obscure specific information in databases
Cloud architectures
- Container security for environments, such as Docker and Kubernetes
- Identity and access management (IAM)
- Zero trust model
- Encrypt data at rest in persistent volumes
- Integrate container security events into the organization's security information and event management (SIEM) system
- Leverage access controls to limit privileges and permissions for containers to the minimum required
- Use network security policies to control traffic between pods
- Enforce time-based access controls for temporary or project-specific permissions
- Require MFA for added security during login
- Utilize identity federation to ensure consistent user identities across on-premises and cloud environments
- Use SSO to enable users to access multiple services with a single set of credentials
- By default, do not trust any user, regardless of the location of users, devices, or resource
- Continuously verify user and device identity
- Regularly review and update access rights according to the principle of least privilege
Endpoint data security
- Deploy advanced antivirus and antimalware solutions
- Implement policies to control peripheral device access
- Prevent unauthorized data transfers through external devices
- Regularly update virus definitions for real-time protection
- Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) for continuous monitoring of endpoint activities and immediate response capabilities for endpoint incidents
Internet of Things (IoT)
- Encrypt communication channels in IoT ecosystems to protect data transmitted between IoT devices and servers
- Implement secure over-the-air (OTA) updates for firmware and software
- Protect the interconnected devices, networks, and data associated with IoT ecosystems
Network security
- Configure stateful and application-layer firewalls
- Implement intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS / IPS) with:
- Use virtual private networks (VPNs) and secure tunneling for remote communication
- Behavioral analysis, including anomaly detection and real-time monitoring for deviations from normal behavior
- Signature-based anomaly detection
Types of digital security risks
Digital security risks abound and are constantly evolving as threat actors seek to take advantage of vulnerabilities and stay ahead of cybersecurity advances. Several of the most common digital security risks include the following.
Advanced persistent threats (APTs)
APTs are prolonged, targeted attacks usually conducted by sophisticated adversaries, such as nation-state actors. Their goal is to infiltrate networks undetected and maintain access to steal data or disrupt operations over time.
Cloud security risks
Among the risks associated with cloud environments are data leakage, insecure APIs, and misconfigured storage buckets. These risks can expose sensitive data or allow attackers to compromise cloud resources.
Internet of Things (IoT) vulnerabilities
Many IoT devices have limited security features, making them easy targets for attackers. IoT vulnerabilities include poor patch management, weak default passwords, lack of encryption, outdated firmware, and insecure APIs. Compromised IoT devices can serve as entry points into larger networks and be harnessed in botnet attacks.
Credential stuffing and password attacks
These attacks use stolen or leaked credentials to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. Automated scripts often test large volumes of credentials across many sites, exploiting weak and reused passwords.
Data breaches
A data breach occurs when sensitive data is exposed or stolen, typically due to weak security controls, misconfigurations, or insider actions. Data breaches can lead to financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties.
Denial-of-service (DoS) and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks
These attacks flood a target system or network with traffic, overwhelming resources and making services unavailable to legitimate users. DDoS attacks are often used to create distractions while other attack vectors are exploited.
Insider threats
Insider threats come from employees, contractors, or partners who misuse their access either intentionally or accidentally. These threats are often difficult to detect because the insiders use legitimate access to systems and data and exploit insider knowledge to expand access.
Malware attacks
Malware is malicious software designed to infiltrate, damage, or disrupt systems. It includes viruses, ransomware, spyware, and worms, which can steal data, lock files, or disrupt operations.
Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks
In a MitM attack, an attacker secretly intercepts communications between two parties. This allows attackers to steal sensitive data like login credentials or manipulate transactions without either party realizing it. Common vectors for MitM attacks include unsecured Wi-Fi, phishing, and DNS spoofing.
Shadow IT
When users install unauthorized apps or services without the authorization or knowledge of IT teams, shadow IT is created. These unapproved tools can introduce vulnerabilities that compromise cybersecurity by bypassing corporate security policies.
Social engineering
Social engineering manipulates people into bypassing security protocols, often leading to credential theft or financial loss. A widely used type of social engineering is phishing, in which the attacker tricks users into revealing sensitive information through fake emails, websites, or messages.
Supply chain attacks
Attackers compromise third-party vendors, software, or service providers to infiltrate a target organization. Supply chain attacks exploit trusted relationships and are often difficult to detect until damage is done.
Zero-day exploits
Zero-day exploits target software vulnerabilities that are unknown to and unpatched. These attacks are especially dangerous because they strike before security teams are aware of the new attack vector.
Digital security tools
Antivirus and antimalware
Detects, blocks, and removes malicious software, such as viruses, ransomware, spyware, and trojans.
Application security testing (DAST/SAST/IAST)
Identifies vulnerabilities in software applications during development (SAST), runtime (DAST), or interactively (IAST).
Browser isolation
Isolates web browsing activities from the network or endpoint to prevent malware infections from risky websites.
Certificate management
Automates the issuance, renewal, and revocation of digital certificates to maintain secure communications.
Cloud security posture management (CSPM)
Continuously monitors cloud environments to detect and remediate misconfigurations and compliance violations.
Data loss prevention (DLP)
Prevents sensitive data from being leaked, lost, or accessed by unauthorized users.
Data masking and tokenization
Protects sensitive data by substituting it with masked or tokenized versions, reducing exposure risk.
Deception technology
Deploys decoys, also referred to as honeypots, to lure and detect attackers early in the intrusion process.
Digital forensics and incident response (DFIR)
Helps with the investigation of breaches, collects evidence, and supports legal or compliance needs post-incident.
Encryption
Protects data confidentiality by converting it into a secure format, both for data at rest and in transit.
Endpoint detection and response (EDR)
Continuously monitors and responds to threats targeting endpoints, such as laptops and mobile devices.
Firewalls
Monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules to block unauthorized access.
Identity security
The three main types of tools used to secure user identities and related access privileges are:
- Identity management for managing the digital identity lifecycle of users
- Identity and access management (IAM) to ensure secure and appropriate access to resources with access control measures
- Identity governance and administration (IGA) to manage and control user identities and their access rights across an organization
Intrusion detection and prevention system (IDS/IPS)
Identifies and responds to unauthorized attempts to access or exploit network resources.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Strengthens login security by requiring multiple verification methods, such as:
- Something you know (knowledge factors
- Something you have (passion factors)
- Something you are (inherence factors)
Mobile device management (MDM)
Secures and manages mobile devices within an organization to enforce security policies and remotely wipe data if needed.
Network access control (NAC)
Restricts access to a network by enforcing security policies for devices attempting to connect.
Password manager
Securely stores and manages strong passwords for users and systems to reduce password-related risks.
Patch management
Automates the process of applying security patches and updates to software and systems.
Privileged access management (PAM)
Secures, manages, and monitors access by users with elevated privileges to minimize insider and external threats.
Secure email gateway (SEG)
Filters malicious emails, phishing attempts, and spam to prevent email-based attacks.
Secure web gateway (SWG)
Protects users from malicious web traffic and enforces internet policy compliance.
Security information and event management (SIEM)
Aggregates and analyzes security data from across the network to detect suspicious activities in real time.
Virtual private network (VPNs)
Securely routes internet traffic through encrypted tunnels, protecting user privacy and data integrity.
Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR)
Integrates and automates security operations workflows for faster incident response.
Threat intelligence platform (TIP)
Aggregates, analyzes, and shares internal and third-party threat data to improve proactive defenses.
Web application firewall (WAF)
Protects web applications by filtering and monitoring HTTP traffic to block exploits, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
Zero trust network access (ZTNA)
Enforces strict access controls by continuously verifying every user and device before granting network access, even within the perimeter.
Digital security as an enterprise imperative
Most organizations agree that lax digital security is not an option and that high-grade digital security is vital for every enterprise because it ensures successful, resilient, and trustworthy IT operations in the face of rapidly increasing amounts of data being generated, stored, and transmitted, coupled with an ever-evolving landscape of threats and vulnerabilities.
Security professionals and other stakeholders in the organization can collaborate to implement a comprehensive strategy that integrates advanced technical measures, rigorous governance, and proactive risk management. This holistic approach is generally the most effective use of digital security and assures the best defense against sophisticated and persistent threat actors.
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND NOTHING CONVEYED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE ANY FORM OF LEGAL ADVICE. SAILPOINT CANNOT GIVE SUCH ADVICE AND RECOMMENDS THAT YOU CONTACT LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING APPLICABLE LEGAL ISSUES.
