Why It Matters
Cybercrime is projected to cost the global economy $10.5 trillion annually by 2025 (Cybersecurity Ventures). Every organization — regardless of size or industry — is a target. The regulatory landscape has shifted from voluntary best practices to mandatory requirements: NIS2 in the EU, NIST mandates for US federal agencies, and sector-specific rules like DORA for financial services. Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue — it's a board-level governance responsibility.
Types of Cybersecurity
- Network security — protecting network infrastructure from intrusion, monitoring traffic
- Application security — securing software from vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10, secure coding)
- Cloud security — protecting data and applications in cloud environments
- Endpoint security — securing individual devices (laptops, phones, servers)
- Identity and access management (IAM) — controlling who accesses what
- Data security — encryption, DLP, backup, and secure data handling
- Operational security (OpSec) — processes for handling and protecting data assets
- Disaster recovery / business continuity — maintaining operations during and after attacks
Common Threats
| Threat | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Phishing | Fake emails/sites stealing credentials | #1 attack vector; 90%+ of breaches start here |
| Ransomware | Malware encrypting data for payment | Average cost: $1.82M per incident |
| Supply chain attacks | Compromising vendors to reach targets | SolarWinds, MOVEit, Kaseya |
| Insider threats | Employees misusing access | 25% of breaches involve insiders |
| Zero-day exploits | Attacks on unknown vulnerabilities | No patch available; high impact |
| DDoS | Overwhelming systems with traffic | Service disruption, reputational damage |
| Business email compromise | Impersonating executives | $2.7B in losses (FBI, 2022) |
Key Frameworks
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF 2.0) — Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover
- ISO/IEC 27001 — certifiable information security management system
- CIS Controls — prioritized set of 18 critical security controls
- MITRE ATT&CK — knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques
- OWASP — web application security standards and tools
Regulatory Landscape
| Region | Regulation | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| EU | NIS2 Directive | Essential and important entities across 18 sectors |
| EU | DORA | Financial sector digital resilience |
| US | NIST Executive Order 14028 | Federal agencies and contractors |
| US | CIRCIA | Critical infrastructure incident reporting |
| US | SEC Cybersecurity Rules | Public company disclosure requirements |
| Global | ISO 27001 | Voluntary but increasingly expected |
| Payment | PCI DSS 4.0 | Anyone processing card payments |
Building a Cybersecurity Program
- Governance — board oversight, CISO role, security strategy
- Risk assessment — identify assets, threats, vulnerabilities
- Controls — implement technical, administrative, and physical safeguards
- Awareness — train all employees (not just IT)
- Detection — SIEM, EDR, network monitoring
- Response — incident response plan, tested regularly
- Recovery — backups, disaster recovery, business continuity
- Compliance — map controls to regulatory requirements
Key Regulation
- NIS2 Directive (EU 2022/2555) — EU cybersecurity framework
- NIST SP 800-53 — security and privacy controls catalog
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 — information security management standard
- ENISA — EU Agency for Cybersecurity guidance