What is cybersecurity and why is it important?

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from digital attacks, unauthorized access, and damage.\n\n**What cybersecurity protects:**\n• **Confidentiality** - Ensuring data is only accessible to authorized users\n• **Integrity** - Maintaining accuracy and completeness of data\n• **Availability** - Ensuring systems and data are accessible when needed\n\n**Why cybersecurity is critical:**\n• **Financial protection** - Prevents costly data breaches and ransomware\n• **Privacy protection** - Safeguards personal and sensitive information\n• **Business continuity** - Maintains operations and prevents downtime\n• **Regulatory compliance** - Meets legal requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, SOX)\n• **Reputation management** - Protects brand trust and customer confidence\n\n**Common threats addressed:**\n• Malware (viruses, ransomware, trojans)\n• Phishing and social engineering attacks\n• Data breaches and identity theft\n• Denial of Service (DoS) attacks\n• Insider threats and human error\n\n**Real-world impact:**\nCyberattacks cost businesses an average of $4.45 million per breach (2023). Major incidents like Equifax (147M records), Target (40M+ cards), and Colonial Pipeline (infrastructure shutdown) demonstrate the devastating consequences of inadequate cybersecurity.\n\n**Best practices:**\n• Implement defense-in-depth strategy\n• Regular security awareness training\n• Keep systems updated and patched\n• Use strong authentication methods\n• Monitor and respond to threats continuously