How Cyber-Informed Engineering Can Revolutionize Cybersecurity

How Cyber-Informed Engineering Can Revolutionize Cybersecurity

The increasing number of data breaches and cyber attacks has made cybersecurity a critical concern for governments and businesses worldwide. While the conventional security measures have proven to be effective to some extent, cybercriminals continue to find new ways to exploit the vulnerabilities in existing systems. In this scenario, cyber-informed engineering can play a crucial role in revolutionizing cybersecurity.

What is Cyber-Informed Engineering?

Cyber-informed engineering is an approach to building secure and resilient systems that takes into account the latest cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. It involves integrating cybersecurity considerations into every aspect of the engineering lifecycle, from requirements gathering to design, development, testing, and deployment.

The ultimate goal of cyber-informed engineering is to create systems that can withstand cyber attacks and continue to function even in the face of severe disruptions. By incorporating cybersecurity as a core principle, engineers can create systems that are more secure, dependable, and resilient.

The Benefits of Cyber-Informed Engineering

Cyber-informed engineering offers several benefits over traditional systems development approaches. Some of the key advantages include:

1. Improved Security: Cyber-informed engineering ensures that systems are designed with security in mind, which can help reduce the likelihood of successful cyber attacks. By building in security from the ground up, engineers can create systems that are inherently more secure.
2. Greater Resilience: Cyber-informed engineering helps build systems that are resilient and can withstand cyber attacks. This means that even if an attack is successful, the system can recover quickly and continue to function, minimizing the impact on users and the organization.
3. Cost Savings: By building security into the system during the development phase, organizations can save costs associated with post-deployment security enhancements and threat mitigation measures.

Real-World Examples

Several high-profile cyber attacks in recent years have highlighted the need for better cybersecurity. One example is the WannaCry ransomware attack that affected thousands of computers worldwide in 2017. The attack exploited a vulnerability in the Windows operating system, which could have been prevented if the system had been designed with cybersecurity in mind.

Another example is the Equifax data breach in 2017, where hackers stole the personal data of millions of customers. The breach was caused by a vulnerability in an open-source software component, which could have been detected and fixed earlier if proper cybersecurity measures had been implemented throughout the development lifecycle.

Conclusion

Cyber-informed engineering is a critical approach to building secure and resilient systems that can withstand the ever-evolving cybersecurity threats. By integrating cybersecurity into every aspect of the engineering lifecycle, organizations can create systems that are more secure, dependable, and resilient. To stay ahead of cybercriminals, it’s essential to embrace cyber-informed engineering as a core principle in system design and development.