Book Image

Critical Infrastructure Security

By : Soledad Antelada Toledano
Book Image

Critical Infrastructure Security

By: Soledad Antelada Toledano

Overview of this book

Discover the core of cybersecurity through gripping real-world accounts of the most common assaults on critical infrastructure – the body of vital systems, networks, and assets so essential that their continued operation is required to ensure the security of a nation, its economy, and the public’s health and safety – with this guide to understanding cybersecurity principles. From an introduction to critical infrastructure and cybersecurity concepts to the most common types of attacks, this book takes you through the life cycle of a vulnerability and how to assess and manage it. You’ll study real-world cybersecurity breaches, each incident providing insights into the principles and practical lessons for cyber defenders striving to prevent future breaches. From DDoS to APTs, the book examines how each threat activates, operates, and succeeds. Additionally, you’ll analyze the risks posed by computational paradigms, such as the advancement of AI and quantum computing, to legacy infrastructure. By the end of this book, you’ll be able to identify key cybersecurity principles that can help mitigate evolving attacks to critical infrastructure.
Table of Contents (16 chapters)
1
Part 1: Introduction to Critical Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Concepts
5
Part 2: Dissecting Cyberattacks on CI
8
Part 3: Protecting Critical Infrastructure
12
Part 4: What’s Next

Understanding the difference between threat, vulnerability, and risk

In the context of cybersecurity and risk management, the terms vulnerability, threat, and risk are often used interchangeably, but they represent distinct concepts. Understanding their differences is crucial for effectively managing and mitigating potential security issues. Let’s explore each term with examples to illustrate their meanings.

Vulnerability

A vulnerability represents a weakness or deficiency within a system, application, or process that may be exploited by a threat to inflict harm. Vulnerabilities can be the result of design flaws, coding errors, misconfigurations, or outdated software. Identifying and fixing vulnerabilities is crucial to reducing the risk of security incidents.

Here are some examples:

...

Vulnerability

Description

Buffer overflow (coding error vulnerability)