In the hyperconnected world of today, cybersecurity remains one of the top concerns facing individuals, businesses, and governments. With ever-advancing technology, the tactics and methods that cybercriminals use also keep getting better at initiating crimes. 

Cybersecurity has ceased to be a generic solution but has grown into a multi-faceted discipline that could encompass a variable set of systems, applications, and infrastructures. To effectively combat the diverse range of threats, cybersecurity is broken down into several specialized domains, each focusing on unique aspects of digital protection.

This article looks at 10 types of cybersecurity, those with the most common threats associated, and emerging trends in this fast-changing landscape.

1. Network security

Definition

Network security describes the protection of integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data traversing network systems, internal or external, through deployed hardware and software technologies aimed at preventing unauthorized access to, misuse of, or theft of network resources.

Common threats

  • Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks: This attack involves swamping the network with traffic by the attacker, thus overloading the servers with services being unavailable.
  • Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) attacks: Attackers listen in on or modify communications between two parties without either party knowing.
  • Ransomware: A type of malware that either renders users unable to access systems or encrypts data until a ransom is paid.

Emerging trends

With the rise of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, networks are becoming more distributed and complex, making them harder to secure. Zero-trust architecture is emerging as a strong approach to network security through the removal of assumptions that anything inside a network should be trusted.

2. Information security (InfoSec)

Definition

Information security refers to the protection of data from unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, or destruction. This type of cybersecurity focuses on protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA triad) of data.

Common threats

  • Data breaches: Unauthorized access to sensitive data often results in identity theft or financial fraud.
  • Insider threats: Critical data is exposed as a result of deliberate or unintentional actions by employees or contractors who have access to it.
  • Phishing: Cybercriminals trick users into giving up sensitive information such as passwords and financial data through deceptive emails or websites.

Emerging trends

While encryption is still a core area in information security, homomorphic encryption and quantum-resistant algorithms promise to gain the most attention in the near future. 

Data privacy regulations are already increasing around the globe, such as GDPR in the European Union and CCPA in California, USA. There is also research into blockchain technology for storing tamper-evident data records.

3. Cloud security

Definition

Cloud security focuses on protecting data, applications, and infrastructures that operate in cloud environments. With cloud computing, a layer of abstraction is developed that requires security measures at both the cloud service provider and the customer’s level.

Common threats

  • Misconfiguration: Cloud platforms can lack proper security settings, thereby exposing their databases and storages to unauthorized access.
  • Data loss: If cloud services fail or experience an outage, the data might be highly important to an organization and risk potential loss without proper backup solutions.
  • Account Hijacking: Inadequate cloud authentication processes enable attackers to hijack the controls of cloud accounts.

Emerging trends

Cloud-native security tools are gaining traction, as evidenced by the recent emergence of Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) and Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPP). 

Meanwhile, an increasing number of organizations using multi-cloud environments brings into play a higher level of added complexity that requires the development of integrated security solutions across multiple cloud providers.

4. Endpoint security

Definition

Endpoint security focuses on securing individual devices—such as laptops, smartphones, and workstations—that connect to a network. Given that endpoints are often the weakest link in the security chain, they are prime targets for cyberattacks.

Common threats

  • Malware: These are viruses, trojans, and worms—types of malware that infect devices and steal or corrupt data.
  • Ransomware: Of the most lucrative varieties of attack, ransomware frequently targets endpoint devices for the purposes of locking users out until a ransom is paid.
  • Zero-Day Exploits: When software or hardware vulnerabilities remain unknown to the vendors, they turn out to be a prime target for the attacker.

Emerging trends

AI and ML are being used more in endpoint security, where various mechanisms can show suspicious behavior and anomalies at runtime, which enhances the speed and precision in detecting threats. In this respect, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems are on the rise since continuous monitoring and response against advanced threats are provided by them.

5. Application security

Definition

Application security basically works towards securing software applications and APIs against external attacks. It tends to cover security measures during the development lifecycle of the software to even further deployment, ensuring an application operates free of vulnerabilities.

Common threats

  • SQL injection: An attacker exploits a weakness in the database layer of the application to inject malicious data into it or retrieve data without authorization.
  • Cross-site scripting (XSS): This vulnerability injects malicious scripts into web applications in order to allow fast data stealing or session hijacking.
  • API weaknesses: APIs that are unsecured or poorly coded can provide an attacker with a conduit to back-end systems or data.

Emerging trends

With the rise of DevSecOps—which injects security into DevOps—and the trend to do “shift-left” security, organizations are moving security earlier in the development process. The use of runtime protection tools—runtime application self-protection (RASP)—serves for real-time monitoring and protection of applications.

6. Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Definition

IAM enables the right access of only the authorized users to particular resources in a network or system. This involves policies, technologies, and processes that manage user identities and their accurate level of access to critical information.

Common threats

  • Credential theft: Cyberattackers steal authorized access through phishing, brute force attack, or via data breach.
  • Privilege escalation: Attackers exploit the system’s weaknesses to gain privileges from it while the attacker is unauthorized to do so, to cause more harm.
  • Password attacks: Weak or reused passwords make it easier for cybercriminals to gain access to systems.

Emerging trends

This includes passwordless authentication like biometrics, hardware tokens, and multi-factor authentication that are altogether on the rise to bring down the risk of credential theft. 

In addition, there is also a shift towards decentralized identity systems on blockchains or any other distributed ledger technology that’s setting a new standard for secure identity management.

7. Critical infrastructure security

Definition

Critical infrastructure security refers to the protection of assets essential for the functioning of a society or economy, including power grids, water systems, transportation, and healthcare. These infrastructures are prime for nation-state actors’ targets and cyber terrorists.

Common threats

  • Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): Sophisticated attacks supported typically by nation-states against critical infrastructures with the aim of long-term damage or espionage.
  • Supply chain attacks: Attackers target third-party vendors and suppliers to indirectly compromise critical infrastructure systems.
  • Cyberterrorism: Attacks aimed at disrupting vital services to cause chaos, financial damage, or political unrest.

Emerging trends

The convergence of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) attunes the attack surface for critical infrastructure. Thus, Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems need advanced protection. 

In this case, the concept of cyber-physical security is going to increasingly take hold, integrating physical and digital protection efforts toward defeating complex, multi-vector attacks.

8. IoT security

Definition

Internet of Things (IoT) security involves the protection of a wide array of smart devices connected to the internet—from smart home systems to industrial sensors to wearables. Most of these are usually deployed without much security and thus make them highly attractive targets for cybercriminals.

Common threats

  • Botnets: In these, attackers infect IoT devices with malware to create groups of compromised devices for mounting large-scale attacks, including DDoS.
  • Device hijacking: The hackers hijack IoT devices to exploit their functionality or as an entry point into larger networks.
  • Insecure firmware: Many IoT devices run either outdated or poorly coded firmware, thus offering a wide avenue for attack.

Emerging trends

The IoT security standards are evolving, with initiatives such as the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act and the ETSI EN 303 645 standard attempting to establish minimum security practices. 

AI and ML can also be used to automate the process of anomaly detection across large IoT networks, thereby rendering it much more feasible to identify threats before they blow out of proportion.

9. Mobile security

Definition

Mobile security is concerned with the protection against a set of new risks that target mobile devices, especially smartphones and tablets. Because these carry sensitive information and tend to connect to unsecured networks, they are a serious security risk.

Common threats

  • Mobile malware: Malicious apps, often disguised as legitimate ones, are downloaded onto devices and can steal data or track user activity.
  • Unsecured Wi-Fi networks: Connecting to open, unencrypted public Wi-Fi exposes one to the risk of attack through communications interception.
  • SIM swapping: Cybercriminals deceive a telecom operator into transferring a victim’s phone number onto a new or different SIM card. This facilitates intercepting calls, texts, and authentication codes in one way or another.

Emerging trends

Mobile threat defense (MTD) solutions become increasingly advanced, using machine learning in risk detection and automatic threat remediation. The secure mobile development frameworks are also helping developers to build more secure apps right from scratch, such as the Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS).

10. Disaster recovery and business continuity planning

Definition

Disaster recovery and business continuity planning deal with how an organization can continue after a cyberattack, data breach, or any other disruptive incident. It covers processes and procedures that allow one to recover lost data, restore operations, and minimize downtime.

Common threats

  • Natural disasters: These include incidents with the destruction of physical IT infrastructure, such as floods or fire.
  • Cyberattacks: Ransomware or DDoS attacks can bring an organization to a standstill, where operations cease to function.
  • System failures: Hardware or software malfunctions can result in data loss or operational interruptions.

Emerging trends

Cyber resilience is becoming a major focus for organizations, with an emphasis on continuous improvement in disaster recovery plans. Automation tools for backup management, system restoration, and testing of operational continuity are increasingly being used.

Final thoughts

Cybersecurity is vast and complex. Each category of security addresses specific challenges and threats. As the panorama of digital space unfolds, so do the tricks of cybercriminals in complementing the evolution. Understanding these different facets of cybersecurity—from network and application security to the security of critical infrastructure and IoT devices—is imperative in building robust defense.

Solutions with advanced threat detection and prevention capabilities like Verimatrix XTD are playing a key role in strengthening defenses as cyberattacks become increasingly sophisticated. By adopting a multi-layered approach and maintaining constant vigilance of the latest trends, companies can protect their valuable assets and preserve their customers’ trust.