If there is technology or the Internet of Things, it can be assumed that no network is 100% free of threats. Vulnerabilities can be considered a given, regardless of the amount of work put into mitigating or reducing them. The only foolproof method of protecting a network is to unplug it, which, unfortunately, also means that it can no longer be used. However, there are means to guard against viruses and similar ailments, and keeping your cyber ware healthy is the first step in doing so. Standard mitigation methods are to run regular vulnerability scans, run monitoring programs, regularly update software versions, standard password protection, and two-factor authentication, and to back up the data.
Despite keeping up this hygiene, cyberattacks and exploits may still occur, and there are two common terminologies used in this scenario; attack surfaces and vulnerabilities.
An attack surface contains all the attack vectors in an organization’s cyber environment. Think of it as the scope of where all the attacks occur, and vulnerabilities are found. Protection and security measures act as barriers to entry. Vulnerabilities either within the system that the security measures do not cover, or security exploits themselves should not be mistaken for the attack surface. Vulnerabilities can occur on the attack surface, consisting of all entry points.
While vulnerability may have varied definitions, the universal meaning for vulnerability, that is, weakness can be used when it comes to cybersecurity. Some might describe vulnerability as a threat that exceeds the protection capacity of a system, others may define it as an exploit, but in simple terms, a vulnerability gives an attacker an attack vector to use for their advantage.
These are the basics of what attack surfaces and vulnerabilities can be in cybersecurity, though they only scratch the surface. While one can delve deeper into intricacies such as vulnerabilities occurring through injection attacks, the more complex courses are best reserved for network analysts and specialists, or those looking for cybersecurity courses and certification at Syburcon Technology.
