Security
What is IT Security?
IT security has to do with guaranteeing the security of all information techniques and technologies (IT) used, i.e., all hardware and software systems and all computer and network systems. The primary objective of these techniques is to ensure the security of information processing and communication, which requires the proper hardware operation processes as well as software and program system processes. The implementation of such security concepts in the business sector is not voluntary: Under current legislation, German companies are legally required to invest in the development and implementation of IT security concepts, in other words, IT compliance.
In addition to voluntary guidelines and relevant security standards such as ISO 27001, COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology), and ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), laws, standards, and guidelines ensure that companies are as fully aware as possible of their actions and liabilities in the area of information security.
Laws on data protection and information security pursue the goal of creating reliable protection for company information in terms of availability, confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. Compliance with these regulations is a mandatory prerequisite for companies to remain compliant with the rules. One such law is the German IT Security Act, which came into force on July 25, 2015.
Why is IT Security important?
Our everyday world is networked through and through – things such as Industry 4.0 in the business sector and smart home concepts in the private sector have long become indispensable. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that the business sector and, of course, consumers have extremely high expectations of the confidentiality of telecommunications. Every second of every day, countless volumes of information are being sent and received at lightning speed via the most diverse IT channels and nodes, just like synapses in the brain. It is hard to imagine what would happen if highly sensitive data such as internal company information or home access codes came into the crosshairs of hackers – a horror scenario for every company and individual. For this reason, it is essential, especially as a company, to protect yourself against external IT threats.
The risk of a company becoming a victim of cybercrime is extremely high, if not pervasive. One hundred percent security is more or less an illusion in the digital world. That is exactly why IT security is not just a technical problem; it should be considered part of every company’s risk management and treated accordingly. This is also why it can be seen from the growing trend in IT that many companies are investing a lot of money to protect against cyber attacks – but there is often uncertainty about the right approach to IT security. Which providers of protection programs can be trusted, and who can deliver on what they promise? There is a wide range of choices, and it is constantly growing.