A Brief History: Cybersecurity Frameworks

Here, we will look at a brief history of cybersecurity and examine the very first cybersecurity frameworks and what they are all about. But first, we’ll look at some of the basics, such as why we need cybersecurity in the first place and what the world would be like without it.

Why We Need Cybersecurity

So, why is cybersecurity so important? In fact, why is it more crucial now than ever before? To answer this, let’s first consider a world where cybersecurity doesn’t exist. What would such a world look like? All sensitive information would be vulnerable to theft, critical systems would be at risk of sabotage, and any form of privacy would be a thing of the past. Such a world would be intolerable — the very fabric of society would be under threat.

Cybersecurity is essential for protecting against a wide range of dangers, from hackers seeking to steal our personal information and financial data to unfriendly nation states launching cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure such as the military, health care, education and other government systems. Such cyber-attacks can have devastating financial consequences, costing businesses large amounts in lost revenue, legal fees, and damage to their reputation.

In our modern world, everything from smartphones to cars and home appliance are connected to the internet. This creates the potential for a massive attack surface, which is continuously expanding. Without robust cybersecurity defences, we would leave ourselves vulnerable to exploitation by malicious actors in their varying forms. And to make things worse, the nature of cyber threats is constantly evolving, with hackers developing increasingly sophisticated techniques to exploit vulnerabilities and evade detection.

Cybersecurity Frameworks

Essentially, a cybersecurity framework is a set of various standards and guidelines to establish best practices for cybersecurity. One of the earliest and most influential of these was the Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC), also known as the “Orange Book.” Developed by the United States Department of Defence (DoD) in the 1980s, the TCSEC provided a set of standards and guidelines for evaluating the security capabilities of computer systems. It introduced the concept of security levels, ranging from D (minimal security) to A (most secure), and defined criteria for assessing security features such as access control, auditing, and accountability.

Although developed for government computer systems, its principles laid the groundwork for future cybersecurity frameworks and standards. It helped establish the importance of systematic approaches to cybersecurity and provided a framework for assessing and improving the overall security of computer systems.

What came after the TCSEC?

Although the TCSEC was a significant milestone in the history of cybersecurity frameworks, it has been displaced by other frameworks and standards that built upon its principles and addressed the evolving cybersecurity landscape. Subsequent frameworks, such as the ISO/IEC 27001 standard and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, were launched in the 2000s. Major cybersecurity initiatives included the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace in the United States, a direct response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, released in 2003, and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), created in 2004.

Today, cybersecurity frameworks provide a wealth of options and alternatives that can be selected and adapted to suit the needs of individuals of different origins.

The future — AI and blockchain

Cybersecurity frameworks have significantly impacted organisational cybersecurity practices, providing guidance and structure for implementing effective security measures. They have helped organisations identify and prioritise cybersecurity risks, improve threat detection and incident response capabilities, and enhance cybersecurity resilience.

However, they are far from perfect. Challenges include their high levels of complexity, lack of standardisation, and rapid technological advancements. Future trends in cybersecurity frameworks may include greater integration with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain and efforts to streamline and harmonise existing frameworks.

If you would like to know more about how Cybersecurity Frameworks can help you or the company you’re representing, don't hesitate to reach out to us here.

Stay vigilant, stay updated, and most importantly, stay secure!