MOST WIDELY USED CYBERSECURITY TOOLS TO SECURE ORGANIZATIONS

If you are starting out in the field of cybersecurity, then it is highly recommended that you have a clear understanding of the different types of tools cybersecurity professionals use in their day-to-day tasks. It might be difficult to master all the cybersecurity tools but if you have a knowledge of the ones that are most widely then it will be a great advantage in your cybersecurity career.

As per Gartner, the overall spending on cybersecurity tools is expected to increase by 10% in 2023. Organizations are increasingly adopting cloud-based cybersecurity tools and according to the Forrester, almost 55% of the organizations are using it.

This article serves as a perfect guide on various types of cybersecurity tools that cybersecurity specialists use and we will learn what these tools are used for.

Cybersecurity tools – What are they?

There are several cybersecurity tools that are used to protect organizations from cyber threats. From identifying risks to analyzing cyber-attacks each tool serves a specific purpose. Be it business or individual, they use these tools to maintain their privacy and security. Remember using antivirus for computers a decade ago? Those were also kinds of cybersecurity tools. These are basically meant to protect and defend networks, systems, and intellectual properties against cyber threats, and security breaches.

Different types of cybersecurity tools

Here are different types of cybersecurity tools that are used for various purposes:

1. Network Security Monitoring tools – These tools are used for identifying network threats that can detect and prevent threats arising from an organization’s intranet.
2. Web Vulnerability scanning tools – This type of tool refers to programs used for identifying threats and risks of web applications and checking if there are any flaws.
3. Network Defense Wireless tools – Network Defense Tools helps protect and enhance network’s usability and integrity. They control access to the network by utilizing both hardware and software.
4. Encryption tools – They facilitate encoding and decoding streams of data that are static at one point or moving and ensure these data are safe and unreadable by unauthorized entities.
5. Firewalls – According to Statista, Firewalls are the most widely used cybersecurity tool and almost 99% of organizations use this system. It protects unauthorized users from accessing private networks by filtering all the data packets entering and exiting the intranet.
6. Penetration Testing Systems – These cybersecurity tools help to identify vulnerabilities within the organization’s security system and mitigate them before actual cyber-attacks happen.

With the top cybersecurity certification programs, you will learn about these different types of tools in detail and can learn their various applications and working technology. Not only that, you will be able to enhance and upgrade your cybersecurity skills with cybersecurity certifications available from top institutes and tech giants.

Most widely used tools

So, now let us look at the tools most widely used by cybersecurity specialists.

1.    Splunk

It is used to monitor network security. It conducts real-time monitoring of networks and searches for any kind of data threats.

2.    Metasploit

It is a multi-functional cybersecurity tool that helps to identify system vulnerabilities, increase the security of computer systems, and conduct security assessments.

3.    John the Ripper

This is used to test the strength of passwords users set in their specific accounts. With this, it becomes easy to discover weak passwords that could lead to security risks. Apart from that it can identify sophisticated ciphers, encrypted logins, and hash-type passwords.

4.    Kali Linux

It is one of the best penetration testing tools widely used by ethical hackers and penetration testers. With this, they can look for any kind of weakness in their IT systems. It is used during IT system audits to see if the firewall or a security system is penetrable or not.

5.    TotalAV

TotalAV is an antivirus software providing complete protection for all personal as well as office devices. Whether it is ransomware, malware, spyware, or adware, this tool helps to protect from all. It also reduces background processes in the device improving battery life, and the startup time.

6.    BitDefender

It is another cloud-based antivirus software protecting computers and other devices connected to the internet from different types of cyber-attacks. It also includes advanced features protecting from phishing attacks and comes with anti-theft capabilities.

7.    Snort

This open-source network security software can scan networks to prevent infiltration. Used by all kinds of cybersecurity specialists, it conducts network traffic analysis and checks for suspected breaches.

8.    KisMAC

It provides network security specifically for MAC OS. It has PCAP import and export capabilities and can help improve network security using force attacks.

9.    Netstumbler

Designed for systems running Windows OS, it helps identify open ports on the networks. It is used for wardriving purposes.

Final thoughts!

The cybersecurity industry is very complex and with the advancement of technology, cybercrimes are becoming more unpredictable. Though it is good to have knowledge of these cybersecurity tools available in the market, it is also recommended to keep updating yourself with the latest and trending cybersecurity skills to stay relevant in the cybersecurity market.