Introduction: why can’t IT be separated from security today?
With the increasing digitisation of business processes, cybersecurity is becoming an integral part of everyday IT decision-making. Cloud services, hybrid working, BYOD models and decentralised approaches have completely changed the way businesses handle information, data and systems. This brings with it not only new opportunities, but also a significantly wider attack surface.
While it used to be possible to build defences around the physical perimeter of the network, today’s security architectures must account for the constant availability of services from anywhere and the associated threat dynamics.
What is cybersecurity and what is its scope?
Cybersecurity is an umbrella term for the strategies, technologies, processes and standards that aim to protect systems and data from misuse, loss or damage. It includes not only defending against attacks, but also:
- Detection of disturbances and anomalies.
- Incident response.
- Identity and access control.
- Ensuring business continuity.
- Compliance with regulatory requirements.
Security today is not just “antivirus on the server”, but an interdisciplinary field that links IT governance, network infrastructure, user habits and legal liability.
The importance of cybersecurity in the daily operation of companies
Cyber threats have long since ceased to be the exclusive concern of large corporations. Small and medium-sized businesses are often targeted precisely because they do not have adequate protection or the means to detect and respond.
Security incidents can take many forms:
- Cloud service outages due to login attacks.
- Data encryption by ransomware with service interruption.
- Loss of customer trust after personal data leak.
- Abuse of access rights by internal users.
In all these scenarios, the speed of detection, the quality of the response and the level of preparedness of the organisation are crucial.
Types of threats: how do current risks differ from those of the past?
Modern threats are characterised by a higher degree of automation, targeting and sophistication. The environment in which they operate has also changed significantly – attacks are often conducted through legitimate access channels (e.g. VPN logins, email access) rather than brute force.
Key threats today include:
- Malware: Infectious code that can record keystrokes, steal data or take over the system.
- Ransomware: attacks that encrypt corporate data and demand a ransom.
- Phishing: Fraudulent emails that mimic legitimate communications in order to obtain sensitive information.
- Zero-day vulnerabilities: previously unknown weaknesses in software that can be exploited before a patch is available.
- Insider threats: intentional or unintentional employee behavior that compromises security.
At the same time, the nature of defenses is changing – anomaly detection and user behavior analysis (UEBA) are becoming as important as traditional antiviruses or firewalls.
How can a systematic approach to security be taken?
1. Analysis of the current situation
The basic premise of the strategic approach is a realistic view of the current security situation of the organisation. This includes:
- Mapping identities and permissions.
- Audit devices that access corporate systems.
- Check the configuration of cloud services (e.g. Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Defender for Endpoint).
- Analysis of access methods (VPN, direct connection, public Wi-Fi, etc.).
2. Real-time detection
Sophisticated attacks cannot be completely eliminated – but they can be detected early. This is possible through:
- SIEM solutions like Microsoft Sentinel.
- Log analysis and suspicious behavior detection.
- Using Zero Trust principles – not trusting any user or device until they prove their legitimacy.
3. Incident response and continuous improvement
A response plan is crucial, especially for regulated sectors. It includes:
- Clearly defined incident detection procedures.
- Responsibilities of individual teams.
- Automated reporting and categorization of threats e.g. according to the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
- Document and review each incident for subsequent learning.
Legislation and standards: what does NIS2 bring?
The NIS2 Directive, which comes into force in 2024/2025, makes active cyber security management mandatory for a wide range of organisations in the EU.
Key requirements include:
- Identification of assets and risks.
- Security Incident Tracking.
- Establish access and incident management policies.
- Mandatory incident reporting within 24 hours.
NIS2 brings a higher level of accountability for senior management and extends oversight of companies in the energy, healthcare, transport, digital services and cloud solution providers.
Technology in practice: What features should a modern security solution have?
A good security framework should:
- Integrate data from multiple sources (cloud, endpoint, network, email).
- Enable user and device behavior analysis (UEBA).
- Offer automated responses to detected threats.
- Maintain logs for longer periods (e.g. 365 days).
- Ensure risk visualisation through clear dashboards.
- Support standards such as MITRE ATT&CK, Zero Trust, DLP.
Today, these functions are offered by both in-house security teams and dedicated managed services (MSSPs) that allow you to delegate operations and oversight without losing control of your data.
The role of education and safety culture
Cybersecurity is not just about technology – it is largely built on people. The most common intrusions occur through user error, lack of account security or clicking on a fake link.
Regular training, simulating attacks (e.g. phishing campaigns) and raising awareness of the risks are among the most effective and low-cost measures.
Summary: Strategic approach instead of reactive problem solving
Digital security today must be understood as a cyclical process:
- Baseline assessment.
- Deployment of detection and monitoring tools.
- Setting up a response framework for crisis situations.
- Regular audit and optimization.
The key to success is continuity, visibility and the ability to adapt to evolving threats. Whether an organisation chooses to build its own solution or use a specialist partner, control, transparency and scalability are important.
