While searching for the meaning of Bollards, I came across various meanings that aren’t in any way related to cybersecurity. If you’re reading this article, I was like you and also wanted to know what bollards mean in cyber security.
There are more than two meanings to the word, which was conceptualized by the Oxford English Dictionary. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Bollard was first published in 1844. Some of its many definitions of Ballard include:
- a short, thick post that is used to block traffic on a road or a section of a road
- a short, thick post that can be tied to a ship’s rope that is either on a ship or on land near water.
Apart from these definitions, I see bollards differently because of how they’re being used in cybersecurity. Bollards serve various functions. For instance, architects use bollards as physical barriers for buildings, which prevent cars from running off the building and can also serve as a means to guide footing.
Additionally, they also secure people and assets. For instance, there are cases where cars have lost control of their brakes. To stop the car from moving and causing damage to people, assets or construction sites, something needs to be done.
Don’t get this wrong. Let me explain better.
When you’re moving on the road, either with your car or bike, there are policemen guiding the road and showing drivers where to go. But in situations where these policemen aren’t there, bollards (especially the ones at the roadside) can guide the drivers and can also stop any slow-moving vehicles. That’s why you see they’re mostly used in parking areas in buildings.
However, bollards in cybersecurity security are different from what you see around these buildings, roadside, or construction sites. Just like protecting assets, and people like you, bollards in cybersecurity also protect companies’ and businesses’ online assets and data from cyber threats.
With this introduction, let’s discuss in detail what bollards mean in cybersecurity, their benefits, types and functions.
What are Bollards in Cybersecurity?
As of 1983, when the internet was officially considered to be established, prior to that, the internet was only meant for government researchers to share information. As time went on and businesses started using the internet, security was primarily focused on physical access control.
Organizations secure their premises more with gates, fences, and physical barriers to prevent unauthorized entry than their online assets and data (maybe because the internet hasn’t developed to what it is today).
However, as technology evolved, especially the internet, so did cyber threats. The rise of interconnected systems, the internet, and cloud computing has introduced new vulnerabilities. Cyberattacks became more sophisticated, targeting critical infrastructure, sensitive data, and the intellectual property of organizations, businesses and individuals.
To prevent cyberattacks seeking to infiltrate networks, steal data, or disrupt operations, bollards are introduced in cybersecurity by professionals.
There isn’t an official definition of bollards in cybersecurity. However, based on what I’ve learned about it, I defined bollards in cybersecurity as:
“a collection of instruments and techniques used to protect digital assets”
This means that, much like how physical bollards do by erecting obstacles and discouraging unauthorized entry, cybersecurity bollards can also do so in cyberspace.
According to the ITRC Annual Data Breach Report, more than 2,365 cyber attacks happened in 2023, with 323,338,964 victims. And as Forbes Advisor reported, between 2021 and 2023, there was a significant increase of 72% in data breaches prior to the existing records.
These had made cybersecurity experts put in a variety of security measures in place to prevent cyberattacks from attacking businesses, individuals and organizations’ online data and assets.
Examples of Cyber Security Bollards
Now that we have clearly understood what cybersecurity bollards are, let’s look into the various examples used to protect online data and assets and how they are used. Some of them include but are not limited to, the following:
1. Firewalls
The first on my list is firewalls, which many of us had already heard about in our computer classes in high school.
Let me give you an analogy of how his firewalls work as a bollard in cyber security.
Picture a fortified castle with thick walls, a drawbridge, and armed guards stationed at the entrance. And whenever you want to enter this castle, you will be scrutinized, thoroughly searched and interrogated by the guard, ensuring that you are not a threat to the security of the castle.
Firewalls function similarly, acting as the first line of defense at the perimeter of a network. They monitor and control incoming and outgoing traffic, filtering out unauthorized access attempts and potentially malicious activity, just like the analogy I used above.
Additionally, they can also be configured to allow or block specific types of traffic based on predefined rules outlined by a cybersecurity expert.
2. Access Controls
Apart from organizations using firewalls, they also use access controls.
Access control is just like a high-security building, which requires ID verification and access codes for identification before granting access.
To understand how access control works, you first need to know about the two key components of access control:
- Authentication: This is the process that verifies the identity of a user attempting to access a system or data online. Common authentication methods like using a strong password, multi-factor authentication (MFA), which requires additional verification steps, and biometrics like fingerprints or facial recognition are known as access controls.
- Authorization: Once a user’s identity is confirmed, authorization determines the level of access they have within the system. For instance, some users might only be authorized to view specific files, while others might have full editing capabilities. This ensures that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive information and functionality.
With this, I can say that access control is also a factor that helps in mitigating cyber threats by making sure that only the right users get access to a system or data by identifying and authorizing them.
However, in some instances, cyber attacks can find vulnerability in a poor access control system, such as using social engineering, vishing or phishing to get users passwords and means of authorization. But the chances to succeed in this are limited as of recently.
3. Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS)
Consider these as virtual security guards that continuously watch over network activities for any signs of suspicious behavior.
An IDS acts as a detection system, identifying and alerting IT personnel to potential threats such as unauthorized access attempts or malware activity.
An IPS takes a more proactive approach, potentially including the ability to automatically block suspicious attempts to gain access.
However, some people compare this to firewalls because they act in similar ways—blocking and reporting suspicious traffic.
4. Data encryption
Lastly, we have data encryption. Data encryption scrambles data using a specific algorithm and key. This process renders the data unreadable to anyone without the proper decryption key.
For instance, if you have watched the Chinese drama Decoded, where a message was coded in mathematics by the enemies and only a well-taught professional military mathematician can decode what the enemies are planning through the coded message, This goes the same way with data encryption.
Data encryption significantly increases the difficulty for unauthorized individuals to access sensitive information, even if they manage to bypass other security measures. Different encryption methods are utilized, and the choice of method depends on the sensitivity of the data being safeguarded.
Benefits of Using Cyber Security Bollards
One effective way to secure your digital assets is to use a layered security strategy, and cybersecurity bollards are the most important part of this.
For example, the strongest fortresses were not just surrounded by a single wall; they frequently had multiple layers of defense, including outer walls, moats, drawbridges, and inner keeps. This layered approach greatly increased the challenge for attackers trying to breach the castle walls and reach the valuable contents inside. Cyber security bollards operate similarly.
By implementing a combination of these security measures, you establish a layered defense that makes it much harder for attackers to penetrate your digital infrastructure. Each cybersecurity bollard acts as a hurdle, forcing attackers to expend more resources and potentially abandon their attempts altogether.
Here’s a closer look at some of the benefits of using cybersecurity bollards:
1. Deterrence
Cybersecurity bollards prevent unauthorized access attempts and deter cyber threats. The presence of firewalls, access controls, and other security measures sends a clear message that unauthorized access is not tolerated and that it is blocked and reported instantly.
2. Multi-Layered Defense
As mentioned previously, cybersecurity bollards contribute to a layered security strategy. When we employ a combination of these tools and methods, we create multiple hurdles for attackers to overcome. Even if they manage to bypass one security measure, they’ll still face others, but before that, cybersecurity experts will be alerted, significantly reducing the chances of a successful attack.
3. Mitigating Various Threats
Lastly, cybersecurity bollards can help mitigate a wide range of cyber threats. For example, firewalls can block malware and other malicious traffic before it enters your network. Access controls prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to sensitive data. Intrusion detection and prevention systems can identify and potentially block hacking attempts. And data encryption renders information useless even if attackers manage to steal it.
Conclusion
In today’s digital world, where information is a valuable commodity and cyber threats are on the rise, robust cybersecurity practices are essential.
By employing a combination of firewalls, access controls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, data encryption, and other cybersecurity bollards, we can create a layered defense that significantly increases the difficulty for attackers.