Cybersecurity means protecting the technology and information an organization depends on from unauthorized access, damage, theft, or disruption. Good cybersecurity helps keep information private, accurate, and available when people need it (National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST], 2024).
Cybersecurity matters because a cyber incident can interrupt operations, expose sensitive information, damage customer trust, and create financial loss. It is not only an IT problem—it is a business risk.
Organizations can approach cybersecurity by understanding their systems and information, identifying risks and vulnerabilities, protecting important assets, monitoring for suspicious activity, responding to incidents, and recovering when something goes wrong. NIST organizes these activities around six functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.
The goal is not perfect security. The goal is to understand your risks and reduce them with confidence.