What is Cyber Security?

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems, networks, programs, and data from unauthorized access, cyberattacks, damage, or theft. It involves various techniques, technologies, and processes designed to safeguard digital information and assets from malicious actors. Cybersecurity measures aim to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data, which are often referred to as the CIA triad.

Key aspects of cybersecurity include:

1. **Risk Management**: Identifying, assessing, and prioritizing potential risks to an organization's information systems and implementing strategies to mitigate those risks.

2. **Access Control**: Limiting access to authorized users and preventing unauthorized access through user authentication, encryption, and other security mechanisms.

3. **Firewalls and Network Security**: Using firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and other network security measures to protect against unauthorized access and malicious activities on networks.

4. **Data Encryption**: Encoding data in such a way that only authorized parties can access and understand it, thus protecting it from unauthorized interception or theft.

5. **Vulnerability Management**: Continuously monitoring systems for vulnerabilities and applying patches and updates to address them, reducing the likelihood of exploitation by attackers.

6. **Incident Response**: Establishing protocols and procedures for detecting, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity incidents such as data breaches or cyberattacks.

7. **Security Awareness Training**: Educating users about cybersecurity best practices and potential threats to help them recognize and avoid security risks.

8. **Endpoint Security**: Protecting individual devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets from malware, unauthorized access, and other threats.

9. **Application Security**: Ensuring that software applications are designed, developed, and maintained with security in mind to prevent vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.

10. **Cloud Security**: Implementing security measures to protect data, applications, and infrastructure hosted in cloud environments, including securing access controls and encrypting data.

Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving field as new technologies emerge and cyber threats evolve. It requires a proactive and holistic approach to safeguarding digital assets and maintaining the trust and integrity of systems and data.

What's coming down the line...

The NIS2 Directive is going to apply to many sectors. Please read!

At Techsoft, we can help you comply with the NIS2 directive. We have a host of products and expertise that can help bolster your Security posture.

NIS2 Directive


The NIS2 Directive is the EU-wide legislation on cybersecurity. It provides legal measures to boost the overall level of cybersecurity in the EU.


The EU cybersecurity rules introduced in 2016 were updated by the NIS2 Directive that came into force in 2023. It modernised the existing legal framework to keep up with increased digitisation and an evolving cybersecurity threat landscape. By expanding the scope of the cybersecurity rules to new sectors and entities, it further improves the resilience and incident response capacities of public and private entities, competent authorities and the EU as a whole.



NIS2 deadline is the 17th October 2024

DORA

The Digital Operational Resilience Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2554) solves an important problem in the EU financial regulation. Before DORA, financial institutions managed the main categories of operational risk mainly with the allocation of capital, but they did not manage all components of operational resilience. After DORA, they must also follow rules for the protection, detection, containment, recovery and repair capabilities against ICT-related incidents. DORA explicitly refers to ICT risk and sets rules on ICT risk-management, incident reporting, operational resilience testing and ICT third-party risk monitoring. This Regulation acknowledges that ICT incidents and a lack of operational resilience have the possibility to jeopardise the soundness of the entire financial system, even if there is "adequate" capital for the traditional risk categories.

DORA entered into force on January 16, 2023 and will apply from January 17, 2025



The most important NIS2 requirements:

  1. Responsibilities of senior management
  2. Importance of training
  3. A risk-based approach to cybersecurity
  4. Cybersecurity as a mixture of technical, operational, and organizational measures
  5. Supply chain security
  6. Reporting of significant incidents
  7. Using certified IT products and services
  8. Fines

DORA establishes technical requirements for financial entities and ICT providers across four domains:

  • ICT risk management and governance
  • Incident response and reporting
  • Digital operational resilience testing
  • Third-party risk management

NIS2 primarily applies to (link)

DORA applies to all financial institutions in the EU. That includes traditional financial entities, such as banks, investment firms and credit institutions, and non-traditional entities, including crypto-asset service providers and crowdfunding platforms.

How we can help

Improving your cybersecurity resilience involves implementing a combination of proactive measures and reactive strategies to protect your systems, data, and operations from cyber threats. Here are some steps you can take:

1. **Risk Assessment**: Conduct regular assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities, threats, and risks to your systems and data.

2. **Security Policies and Procedures**: Develop and enforce comprehensive security policies and procedures that cover aspects such as data protection, access controls, incident response, and employee training.

3. **Employee Training**: Educate your employees about cybersecurity best practices, including how to recognize and respond to phishing attempts, use strong passwords, and secure their devices.

4. **Patch Management**: Keep your software, operating systems, and applications updated with the latest security patches to address known vulnerabilities.

5. **Network Security**: Implement firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other network security measures to monitor and control traffic to and from your network.

6. **Data Encryption**: Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest to protect it from unauthorized access.

7. **Backup and Recovery**: Regularly back up your data and test your backup and recovery processes to ensure that you can quickly restore critical systems and data in the event of a cyber incident.

8. **Incident Response Plan**: Develop and regularly update an incident response plan that outlines the steps to take in the event of a cybersecurity incident, including who to contact, how to contain the incident, and how to restore normal operations.

9. **Vendor Management**: Assess the cybersecurity posture of your third-party vendors and suppliers and ensure they meet your security standards.

10. **Continuous Monitoring and Improvement**: Implement systems for continuous monitoring of your network and systems for suspicious activity, and regularly review and update your cybersecurity practices to adapt to evolving threats.

Implementing these measures and continuously improving your cybersecurity posture can enhance your resilience to cyber threats and better protect your organization's assets and operations.