Security Threats and Vulnerabilities

 Requirements: 

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• The paper must by at least 10 pages double-spaced
• 1″ margin all around
• Black12 point fonts (Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier)
• Correct APA format citations
• Graphics are allowed but do not apply for the minimum page count.
• A minimum of 10 references are needed.

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Security Threats and Vulnerabilities

Prince Boateng

American Military University

ISSC 422

Prof. Cliff Krahenbill

3/2/2025

Overview
Globally, people, businesses, and governments are becoming increasingly concerned about cyber security threats and vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals create increasingly complex strategies to take advantage of security flaws as technology develops, which can result in data breaches, monetary losses, and privacy violations. This study examines the most common security flaws and threats, their effects, and the need for strong security measures to be put in place in order to successfully reduce risks.

Statement of the Issue
Cyber dangers are developing at a startling rate, revealing serious weaknesses in contemporary IT systems. Because of antiquated systems, insufficient security standards, and a lack of knowledge, organizations find it difficult to stay up with these threats. There are significant threats to data integrity and business continuity from cyber attacks like ransom ware, phishing, and zero-day exploits. Ensuring a safe digital environment requires identifying critical vulnerabilities and taking aggressive measures to fix them.

Pertinence and Importance
Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and severe, which emphasizes how critical it is to comprehend security risks and weaknesses. Cybercrime is expected to cost the world economy trillions of dollars per year, according to industry reports. Inadequate security measures can lead to financial devastation, legal repercussions, and harm to an organization’s reputation. This article analyzes security risks in order to highlight the importance of proactive cyber security tactics, such as threat intelligence, risk assessments, and sophisticated security standards. This research also adds to the larger conversation on cyber security best practices and policies for protecting sensitive information and vital infrastructures.

References

1. Barrett, M. P. (2020, January 27).
Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Version 1.1. NIST.

https://www.nist.gov/publications/framework-improving-critical-infrastructure-cybersecurity-version-11

2. Anderson, R. (2020). Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems (3rd ed.). Wiley

3.
Click here to kill everybody – Schneier on Security. (2024, February 21). Schneier on Security. https://www.schneier.com/books/click-here/

4.
The art of Deception: controlling the human element of security. (n.d.). Wiley.com. https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Art+of+Deception%3A+Controlling+the+Human+Element+of+Security-p-9780764542800

5.
2023 Data Breach Investigations Report: frequency and cost of social engineering attacks skyrocket. (2023, August 9). News Release | Verizon. https://www.verizon.com/about/news/2023-data-breach-investigations-report?msockid=02fd927e80946bbe3b44864b813c6a8f