What Is Enterprise Cybersecurity?

In light of the growing threat of cybercrime, enterprise cybersecurity has become essential. Firms that do not implement it run the risk of having data stolen and their networks compromised. 

But what exactly is enterprise cybersecurity and how does it benefit the firms that use it? 

Enterprise Cybersecurity: A Definition

Enterprise cybersecurity is a multi-faceted approach to IT network protection. It goes beyond traditional methods of protecting businesses’ digital assets by bringing together multiple endpoints and technologies. 

In essence, enterprise cybersecurity is any approach that protects both a company’s on-site and cloud-based infrastructure. Historically, it was something that firms operating hybrid IT network models adopted. However today, with the expansion of the internet of things (IoT), sensors and SaaS vendors, enterprise cybersecurity has become more encompassing. It is now a full-stack solution that attempts to shield businesses against threats from all channels.

How Is Enterprise Security Different From Regular Cybersecurity?

While enterprise security sounds similar to regular cybersecurity, there are subtle points of difference. For instance, traditional cybersecurity aims squarely at preventing and controlling attacks that occur in regular cyberspace. However, enterprise security focuses more on protecting a firm’s digital assets. 

For example, under a conventional cybersecurity model, IT professionals work to stop threats before they can access systems. If there is a breach, then they immediately mobilize resources to counteract it.

By contrast, an enterprise cybersecurity team may not have the same list of priorities. Instead, their primary goal may be to prevent any attack from disrupting the flow of business operations.

Why Do Companies Focus On Enterprise Security? 

Practically every month, a news story breaks about a major breach at a well-known brand. It is almost routine – so much so that the media barely reports it any more. However, make no mistake: it is happening. No company – no matter how large or small – can claim immunity from such attacks. 

Enterprise security is valuable to firms because of the importance of their data. Companies rely on the information they collect to communicate with customers, design marketing campaigns, and understand their competitors.

It is this very reliance that makes data such a liability in the modern ecosystem. Hackers know that it is valuable and regularly look for opportunities to appropriate it for themselves. 

If they are successful, the consequences can be enormous. Companies that lose data can suffer a loss of credibility and may have to pay a ransom to get it back. They may also face litigation, depending on the jurisdiction.

The key here is to put in place an enterprise security system to precedent this from happening. Firms must first define their IT network’s boundaries and software environment and then begin a multi-pronged push to protect it. 

Critically, they must assess their vulnerabilities and put a recovery plan in place. This helps to reduce the number of access points to the system, making it harder for criminals to gain access. It also makes it easier to discover breaches sooner instead of weeks or months.