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Know the latest terms and why they matter.
Original posting date: April 29, 2021
Cybersecurity can seem like a world of jargon and technical terms, but understanding the key concepts is crucial for all involved in protecting an organization's network. We’ve compiled a list of important cybersecurity terms that will help you understand their meanings and why they are important to safeguarding your network.
A prolonged, targeted attack in which an attacker gains unauthorized access to a network and remains undetected for an extended period, often to steal sensitive data or disrupt operations.
APTs are highly sophisticated and extremely difficult to detect, making them a significant threat to high-value assets like intellectual property and national infrastructure.
A security model based on the assumption that a breach has already occurred or will inevitably happen. This model focuses on reducing the damage of an attack and improving detection and response capabilities.
By operating under the assumption that a breach will occur, organizations can take proactive steps to continuously monitor and secure their networks.
The total number of vulnerabilities or points in a system that are exposed to potential attack, including web applications, email, devices, and networks.
A comprehensive understanding of your attack surface helps identify entry points for attackers, allowing you to reduce risks.
The method or pathway that an attacker uses to gain unauthorized access to a system. Common attack vectors include phishing emails, malicious links, and exploiting software vulnerabilities.
Identifying potential attack vectors is crucial for preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data.
A process that simulates real-world attacks to assess the effectiveness of an organization's security.
BAS helps identify weaknesses in your defenses, allowing you to remediate vulnerabilities and improve your security posture before an actual attack occurs.
Cybersecurity experts responsible for protecting an organization's network and systems from cyberattacks by focusing on continuous monitoring, identifying threats, and responding to incidents to minimize damage.
Blue teams work to fortify defenses, detect potential threats early, and respond effectively to minimize the impact of cyberattacks.
The practices and technologies designed to protect data, applications, and services hosted in cloud environments.
As more businesses move to the cloud, securing cloud infrastructure becomes critical to prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, and downtime.
Ongoing identification of potential entry points or vulnerabilities exposed on the internet that could be exploited by attackers.
Continuous discovery helps to ensure that no new vulnerabilities are overlooked, and it allows for a comprehensive view of the organization’s attack surface.
Systematically examines and evaluates potential entry points for cyber threats in a system or network. This process aims to identify and address vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors.
Real-time monitoring helps detect emerging threats and vulnerabilities quickly, enabling immediate response and mitigation before attackers can exploit them.
Ongoing testing of an organization's systems and attack surface to simulate potential real-world attacks and identify weaknesses.
Continuous testing ensures that security defenses remain effective and that new vulnerabilities are promptly addressed.
Ongoing monitoring, testing and remediation of vulnerabilities that can leave an organization’s network exposed to cyberattacks. CPT blends machine and human testing to ensure all aspects of a network security program are working as they should year-round.
Continuous testing ensures that vulnerabilities are discovered and mitigated as soon as they emerge, providing a proactive approach to securing the network.
A structured, ongoing process that enables organizations to identify, assess, and mitigate security risks.
CTEM helps detect and address risks in real-time, ensuring your organization can respond quickly and adapt to the evolving threat landscape.
A structured approach to mitigating the effects of a cybersecurity breach or attack, including detection, containment, and recovery processes.
Having a well-defined incident response plan is critical to minimizing damage, reducing recovery time, and maintaining operational integrity during and after an attack.
A security process that requires users to provide two or more authentication factors before accessing a system, such as a password, a smartphone, or biometric data.
MFA strengthens security by adding an additional layer of protection, making it much harder for attackers to compromise accounts, even if a password is leaked or stolen.
A type of social engineering attack where attackers impersonate trusted entities, such as companies or colleagues, to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information like usernames, passwords, or financial details.
Phishing is one of the most common methods for cybercriminals to gain access to sensitive information, and it is often the first step in larger, more sophisticated attacks.
Cybersecurity experts who simulate real-world attacks on an organization to test the effectiveness of its security measures.
Red teams identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses by thinking like attackers, providing valuable insights to strengthen defenses and improve overall security.
Actual threats or vulnerabilities that could potentially harm an organization's systems, such as malware, ransomware, or advanced persistent threats (APTs).
Understanding real-world threats helps organizations structure their strategies to address the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by cybercriminals in real-world attacks.
The process of fixing or addressing vulnerabilities, weaknesses, or gaps in an organization’s security environment to reduce the risk of exploitation.
Effective remediation reduces the window of opportunity for attackers, ensuring that vulnerabilities are resolved quickly before they can be exploited.
The speed at which an organization addresses and resolves identified vulnerabilities. Faster remediation velocity means quicker response times to threats.
High remediation velocity helps mitigate risks quickly, reducing the time attackers have to exploit vulnerabilities and enhancing overall network security.
The overall strength of an organization’s cybersecurity program, based on its ability to defend against and respond to cyber threats, as well as its overall risk management strategy.
A strong security posture indicates that an organization is well-prepared to handle cyber threats and can recover quickly from attacks while minimizing risk exposure.
By understanding and incorporating these cybersecurity terms into your strategy, your organization will be better prepared to face the wide range of challenges posed by modern cyber threats. In today’s cybersecurity landscape, staying informed and adapting to new strategies is essential for protecting your network and data.
Continuous Human & Automated Security
Continuously monitor your attack surface with advanced change detection. Upon change, testers and systems perform security testing. You are alerted and assisted in remediation efforts all contained in a single security application, the Sprocket Platform.