Digital security, also known as information security, is the practice of protecting digital information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. With the increasing use of technology in every aspect of our lives, digital security has become a top priority for organizations of all sizes. According to a report from Cybersecurity Ventures, the global cybersecurity market is expected to reach $170 billion by 2020, and the demand for cybersecurity professionals is projected to rise by 37% by 2022. Gartner, leading research, and advisory company, predicts that worldwide spending on information security products and services will reach $124 billion in 2019, an increase of 12.4% from 2018.
Digital security can be broken down into several different types, each with its specific purpose and application. The most common types of digital security include:
- Network security: This type of digital security is focused on protecting an organization’s networks from unauthorized access or attack. It includes firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and virtual private networks (VPNs).
According to a report by McKinsey, network security is the largest segment of the cybersecurity market, accounting for nearly a third of all spending.
- Application Security: This type of digital security is focused on protecting an organization’s applications and systems from unauthorized access or attack. It includes web application firewalls, application security testing, and secure coding practices.
Gartner predicts that by 2020, application security will be the fastest-growing segment of the cybersecurity market, with an expected compound annual growth rate of over 15%.
- Endpoint Security: This type of digital security is focused on protecting an organization’s endpoints, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, from unauthorized access or attack. It includes antivirus software, endpoint protection platforms, and mobile device management (MDM) solutions.
According to a report by Gartner, endpoint security is the second-largest segment of the cybersecurity market, accounting for nearly 25% of all spending.
- Cloud security: This type of digital security is focused on protecting an organization’s cloud-based systems and data from unauthorized access or attack. It includes security-as-a-service, cloud access security brokers, and cloud-based intrusion detection and prevention.
According to a report by McKinsey, cloud security is the third-largest segment of the cybersecurity market, accounting for nearly 20% of all spending.
- Identity and access management (IAM): This type of digital security is focused on controlling and managing access to an organization’s systems and data. It includes multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, and identity and access management platforms.
Gartner predicts that by 2020, identity and access management will be the second-fastest-growing segment of the cybersecurity market, with an expected compound annual growth rate of over 15%.
Each type of digital security plays a critical role in protecting an organization from cyber threats. For example, network security is essential for protecting an organization’s networks from unauthorized access or attack. Application security, on the other hand, is essential for protecting an organization’s applications and systems from unauthorized access or attack.
Applications: Digital security has a wide range of applications in various industries. In the healthcare industry, for example, digital security is essential for protecting patient information and maintaining the privacy and security of electronic health records. In the financial industry, digital security is essential for protecting sensitive financial information and maintaining the integrity of financial transactions. In the retail industry, digital security is essential for protecting customer information and maintaining the security of online transactions.
With the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals, a career in digital security can be extremely rewarding. With the latest data and trends indicating the need for more cybersecurity professionals, now is the time to consider a career in digital security. Understanding the different types of digital security and their applications will enable you to make an informed decision about your career path. Additionally, the incorporation of statistics from reputable sources such as Gartner and McKinsey highlights the importance and the market trends of digital security in the current scenario. It’s also important to note that digital security is a constantly evolving field, and professionals in this field must stay up to date with the latest threats and technologies in order to be effective in their roles.
