Glossary of IT Security terms
Clear and concise explanations are given for the most common IT security expressions, phrases, acronyms and jargon.
Cyber security
Cybercrime and threats to computer systems have become a major concern of businesses around the world. Our growing reliance on IT and the internet has greatly increased the impact of hacking, security failures and the loss of systems. At the same time, cyber attackers have become more sophisticated and organised. How worried should businesses be? And what are the main steps they should be taking? This resource centre provides a focal point for ICAEW members looking for support in managing cyber risks.
Featured items
In this section
Features and articles
Home working is here to stay
The results of a 2020 IoD survey
How to make the best of virtual office work
The challenges of maintaining efficiency, demystified
How to work in teams when times are stressful
The key to improving performance in stressful times
Hacking vulnerable targets
Leo Waldock explains why hackers remotely accessing a water facility in Florida was a wake-up call to the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure.
Guidance
Fraud Issues for members in practice
Technical helpsheet issued to help ICAEW practice members to navigate some of the issues that may arise if they find that they have been victims of fraud.
Keep your charity safe
New helpsheet for charities on keeping themselves safe in the pandemic and beyond, issued in December 2020 by the Fraud Advisory Panel, the Charity Commission, the National Cyber Security Centre and others.
COVID-19 risk briefing
Covid-19 is creating exceptional circumstances and while the country adjusts to life under lockdown, criminals are identifying ways to exploit the vulnerable at this time of uncertainty.
Finance in a Digital World
ICAEW is collaborating with Deloitte to ensure its members and students have the knowledge and skills to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the fourth industrial revolution and to meet its challenges head on. Log-in to access exclusive content, including: eLearning, webinars and bite-sized summaries on individual technologies and the broader impact of digital technologies on finance.
Webinars and recordings
Common online frauds and how to avoid them
A timely update on common online frauds you might encounter in your professional and personal lives, along with some practical tips on how to spot and avoid them.
Breaking issues on COVID-19 - the impact on legal practices of increased fraud and cybercrime
40% of crime in the UK is cyber related, and within the last year there has been a spike due to COVID-19. Join this webinar to hear Jim Gee's advice on how to keep your organisation safe against the threat of cybercrime.
Five questions boards should ask about cyber security
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued guidance to help boards get to grips with cyber security, perhaps more important now than it has ever been.
Five steps to cyber hygiene for the smaller firm
This webinar will highlight the five steps smaller firms can take to help prevent 80% of cyber-attacks and improve the cyber security of their firms and clients.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by external guest speakers in interviews or other publications included on this website are, by their nature, those of the speaker. They are not necessarily fully endorsed by the ICAEW or purport to reflect the official policies and views of the ICAEW or its members.
Industry press
The Library & Information Service provides a hand-picked collection of industry press articles as a benefit of membership. If you are unable to access an article, please see our Help and support or contact library@icaew.com
How can healthcare fight cyber crime?
Article reports that the healthcare organizations have come under intense pressure since the outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus, and they are also battling a dramatic increase in cyber security incidents linked to the pandemic.
The end of Emotnet: a blow to the cyber criminals, but don't drop your guard
Article looks at the takedown of Emotet - one of the world's most active and dangerous cyber threats using malware and ransomware. Also discussed is how this may not have a long-term impact.
BA breach penalty sets precedent for future effectiveness of GDPR
Article looks at the ramifications of the reduction by 90% of BAs fine for a 2018 data breach where the information on hundreds of thousands of customers was stolen.
Double extortion attacks and how to stop them
Article reports on the rise of the ransomware tactic known as 'double extortion' where the hacker not only encrypts data and demand a ransom to regain access, but also threaten to upload the data online if their terms are not met.
Terms of use: You are permitted to access articles subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.
Useful links
10 steps to cyber security
Guidance on how organisations can protect themselves in cyberspace, including the 10 steps to cyber security, an introduction to cyber security for executive/board-level staff and an explaination of what a common cyber attack looks like, and how attackers execute them.
A practical guide to IT security
Guidance from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) which gives advice for small businesses on how to keep IT systems safe and secure.
Be cyber aware
Government campaign to raise cyber security awareness. Gives advice on: protecting your device; protecting your data; and protecting your business.
Cloud security guide for SMEs
Guidance from ENISA on the security risks and opportunities of cloud services for SMEs. Includes forms for assessing risks and opportunities and collecting relevant information about the security aspects of a cloud service.
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Data protection and privacy
Draft decision deems UK data laws ‘adequate’
24 February 2021: The UK government has welcomed the European Commission’s recent draft data adequacy decision, which paves the way for the continued free flow of data from the EU and the UK.
Data Protection now the UK has left the EU: February 2021 Update
The EU Commission has issued a draft decision that the UK will be granted a full adequacy decision which will enable data flows from the EU/EEA to continue as they did when the UK was in the EU. However the European Data Protection Board still has to formalise this and will not do this before it has consulted with member states.
Data protection now the UK has left the EU: January 2021 update
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, ICAEW Insights has the latest on how this affects GDPR and the sensitive issue of data protection.
Data protection and Brexit - October 2020 update
October 2020 update on data protection and Brexit – what you need to know and how to prepare your business.