Top 10 Cyber Security Tools You Must Know

The process used to protect systems such as computers, servers, and mobile devices connected to the internet from malicious attacks is known as Cyber Security. There are two parts of Cybersecurity - Cyber and Security. Any systems, technology, network, and data connected to the internet is known as Cyber. Security is associated with protecting the said systems, network, and data. Cybersecurity is also known as Electronic Information Security or Information Technology (IT) Security. According to the 2021 Year End Report: Data Breach Quick View, by Risk Based Security and Flashpoint, more than 22 billion data was compromised due to data breaches and hacking attempts in 2021.

The emergence of Work from Home (WFH) and remote working culture has compromised IT Security. In addition, the risk of cyber threats has multiplied significantly in recent years. No organisation can escape cyber threats and security issues. However, Cybersecurity Tools can help minimise the risk of such threats and provide robust security to the company's data. There are several types of IT Security tools that an organisation can use to safeguard its data and networks.

In this blog, we present the Top 10 Cybersecurity Tools that you should know in 2023.

Table of Contents

1) What are Cyber Security Tools?

2) Types of Cyber Security Tools

3) Benefits of Cyber Security Tools 

4) Conclusion

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What are Cyber Security Tools?
 

Cybersecurity Tools help businesses identify, assess, and mitigate IT Security risks. The main objective of such tools is to secure the data, network, and systems. Organisations use these tools to maintain their privacy on the internet and safeguard their systems and data. These warn the users of potential risks within a system or network. In essence, IT Security tools defend the firm's network, intellectual property, and systems from cyberattacks. They also provide protection against cybercrime like identity theft and password trafficking.

 Features of Cybersecurity Tools

The role of Cybersecurity tools in modern internet-based business operations is critical. There are several types of IT Security tools that companies can use. In the following points, we present some of the features of these tools. 

1) They enable regular scanning of systems and network

2) Two-Factor Authentication provides an additional layer of security

3) They manage both internal and external threats

4) These tools help in complying with the regulatory requirements

5) Provides detailed security analytics

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Types of Cyber Security Tools
 

Burp Suite 

It is an IT Security tool used to enhance the security of a network. The IT and Security teams conduct real-time scans on systems and networks to identify critical weaknesses. In addition, the Burp Suite also stimulated cyberattacks to detect different cybersecurity threats that compromise network security. It is an integrated platform and a graphical tool that tests and analyses the security of websites. This tool consists of various features that perform the testing tasks and communicate and pass requests among each other. A comprehensive test is executed this way. The information gained from this tool and its tests helps the IT team to develop robust security systems. In addition, it also helps in the complete testing process, from the preliminary mapping of an application's attack surface to exploring and exploiting the security flaws.

TrueCrypt 

It is one of the most popular encryption tools, even though it has not been updated in several years. TrueCrypt was designed and developed for 'on-the-fly' encryption. It possesses the power and capability to encrypt an entire storage device. Further, this tool also allows security professionals to encrypt layered content using two different access control types. Due to this reason, TrueCrypt is still a popular tool for encryption despite no update in years. It is installed in the computer's administrator account; then, any registered user can use this tool.

Cain and Abel 

It is a password recovery tool and one of the best in this field. Although it was designed and developed to run on a Microsoft Windows system, but can support methods of password recovery on other systems. It can sniff the local network for passwords shared with other devices using POP3, HTTP/HTTPS, SMTP, and other protocols to recover the passwords. In addition, it can also use different methods, like network packet sniffing and brute force, etc., for password recovery. Further, Cain and Abel have many other features as well. It can record VoIP communications and analyse routing protocols to determine the chances of the routed data packets getting compromised. This tool can also recover cached passwords. It uses brute force to crack the encrypted passwords.

Malwarebytes 

One of the best cyber security tools for protecting against Ransomware, Malware, Malicious websites, and other online threats are Malwarebytes. It can identify and block the threats that antivirus software cannot. Further, it is a multi-purpose tool that can troubleshoot and repair to resolve problems quickly. It can protect the systems on multiple levels and is a robust and effective solution for managing Cyber Security.
 

Forcepoint 

It is a Cyber Security tool aimed mainly at cloud users. Forcepoint defines network security as preventing users from accessing unauthorised content and detecting and preventing hacking attempts. The main advantage of using this tool is that it combines different technologies into a single platform. This tool allows the IT security team to explore, categorise, supervise, and secure data with minimum user friction. It is the only Cyber Security tool that can be customised. These customisations help block attempted cyberattacks. This tool warns cloud users about potential Cyber Risks and thus helps to secure their data. Forcepoint provides an extra level of security to sensitive and critical information.

Wireshark 

Formerly known as Ethereal, it is a free and open-source Cyber Security tool. It analyses network traffic in real-time by capturing data packets from a network connection. It is one of the most effective tools for analysing network protocols and is used mainly for identifying and diagnosing network security. Network administrators can use this tool to troubleshoot any problems within the network. Wireshark analyses the network in real-time and evaluates any vulnerabilities. It helps in the easy identification of vulnerabilities in the network's security.

Tor 

One of the most effective network security tools is Tor. It is an open-source privacy network and allows users to browse the web anonymously. It hides the user's IP address and browsing activity by routing the traffic through a network of routers known as nodes. The key users of Tor are those who want to protect their online privacy. Using the Tor browser makes it hard for authorities and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to track user activity and trace their online presence.

John the Ripper 

It is considered a vital IT security tool mainly used to test password strength. This tool identifies weak passwords that could become a threat to the security of the network. This tool searches for encrypted login attempts, complex cyphers, and hash-type passwords. It is an effective Cyber Security tool because it is updated regularly by the community as it is an open-source tool.  

Splunk 

Splunk is a real-time analytics-driven tool that collects, evaluates, and corresponds to large amounts of network and machine data. It can function as the main log analysis engine, meaning it performs a thorough analysis of the logs to detect vulnerabilities. With this tool, the Cyber Security Engineers can correspond to the security event and therefore identify the source of the breach. Splunk is a horizontal technology. IT teams use it in managing system information, compliance, security, and business and web analytics.

Metasploit Framework

Metasploit is a well-known and widely adopted Cyber Security tool frequently used by Ethical Hackers to investigate security issues on servers and networks. Cybercriminals can wrongly use the capabilities of this too to detect potential security flaws in a target system. This tool also consists of several scanners for identifying vulnerabilities and threats that can be customised with most operating systems because of its open-source nature. Cyber Security experts and professionals use it to fulfil different security objectives.

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Benefits of Cyber Security Tools
 

In recent years Cyber Security has become of great importance for companies. It creates robust IT systems for organisations and helps secure the data, preventing cybercrime against them. Cyber Security is imperative for companies now, as it saves significant resources and helps strengthen their position in the market. In light of the fact hackers and cybercriminals are upgrading their methods to execute cyberattacks, a robust cyber security system is crucial for companies. Following are some of the benefits of Cyber Security tools.   

1) Protects sensitive data - One of the most basic but critical benefits of using IT Security Tools is that it protects sensitive data. Cyberattacks have increasingly become common and cause significant damage to the company and its processes. If such data leaks to the public or competitors access them, the damages will be substantial. These tools encrypt the data and thereby add an extra layer of protection for sensitive data, making it difficult for hackers to gain access. 

2) Protection from hackers - Another significant but fundamental benefit of using IT tools is that it helps in protection from hackers. In the current times, the frequency and intensity of cyberattacks have increased. Companies and individuals are taking steps that help in ensuring that the data is safe and they do not fall victim to hacking attempts. Thus, the use of IT security tools becomes useful. These tools provide an added level of security which makes it difficult for hackers and cybercriminals to break through and gain access to the data.

3) Regulatory compliance - In light of the increasing cyber-attacks, governments and regulatory bodies have developed several laws and regulations. These help them to assess the security position of companies. In addition, these also guide businesses in maintaining their cyber security to the highest levels. One such regulation is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) implemented across the European Union (EU). Failure to comply with such laws can result in severe penalties and fines. Such a situation can adversely influence the performance and image of the company.

4) Improves Cyber Security position - In addition to safeguarding the data, IT Security tools also improve the overall Cyber Security position of the company. These tools offer comprehensive digital protection giving employees the flexibility, safety, and liberty to use the internet. Advanced Cyber Security systems can track all activities with a single click. These tools help businesses to respond quickly to a cyber threat and identify its source of origin. Such information is vital in enabling the company to enhance its security systems and prepare for any cyber-attack.

5) Improves productivity – Cyberattacks have become very common in the current age. These attacks adversely influence the productivity of the company. Viruses affect workflows, networks, and functions. Consequently, productivity gets affected and impacts the way the company operates. Such attacks result in downtime as the systems and networks stop to remove the bug or virus. Due to this reason, the company’s operations are affected. This negative influence on productivity translates into subpar performance and makes it difficult to achieve its goals and targets. With proper IT security tools, businesses can improve their productivity by gathering information about cyber threats before they affect operations. 

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Conclusion

After reading this blog, we hope you understand the various tools for maintaining Cyber Security of businesses. In this blog, we presented the Top 10 Cyber Security Tools that can be helpful to your organisation in safeguarding and protecting its data. Cyber risks have increased in recent years, and it has become critical for companies to safeguard their and customers’ data. A cyberattack can result in downtime for the organisation, resulting in loss of productivity and negatively impacting performance. 

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