What are Bollards?

The Importance of Cybersecurity Bollards: Protecting Digital Assets from Internet-based Threats

Bollards are not something new in the sphere of physical security landscapes. Traditionally, a bollard is a short, vertical post placed strategically to control or direct road traffic and prevent vehicles from entering secure areas. with innovative developments in technology, the idea has been transposed to cybersecurity. Here, bollards can act as virtual barriers, controlling the flow of traffic and restricting unauthorized access of various forms.

Bollards refer to defensive tools and methods which protect digital networks from cyber threats, akin to their role of safeguarding physical premises. These virtual bollards work staunchly to maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information just as the physical ones work to safeguard and prevent.

These virtual bollards in cybersecurity are fundamentally integrated with firewalls and antivirus systems. Both play a pivotal role in securing systems from growing cyber threats. These virtual bollards are commonly referred to as security barriers. While bollards provide the first line of defence, firewalls and antivirus programs, also considered security bollards, offer additional layers.

Two demoninations of software bollards dominate the cybersecurity space – perimeter bollards and internal bollards. A perimeter security cordon, akin to the physical bollards that demarcate a specific secure area, involves firewalls that act as shields to control network traffic. It filters incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined rules, and protects the networks from unwanted intrusions. Firewall software performing its role in preventing cyber-attacks can be compared with physical bollards barring unauthorized vehicles.

In contrast, the internal bollards engage in an equally crucial role. They feature endpoint security tools like antivirus software. This second line of defence continues the protection internally, working relentlessly, scanning for viruses, malicious programs or any possibly damaging exploits that somehow made their way through the perimeter firewall and into the system. Antivirus programs perform regular checks, troubleshoot infected files or locations, and act robustly to correct or eliminate threats. If their efforts are insufficient, these programs alert human administrators, notifying them about the risk.

Deploying these cybersecurity bollards alone does not ensure absolute security. The landscape of cyber threats is as diverse as it is evolving. Hackers may sometimes bypass perimeter defenses, like firewalls, using alternative strategies, such as spear-phishing or social engineering techniques that deceive individuals into revealing sensitive data. To weather such threats, businesses could make use of social bollards, fostering a culture of cybersecurity where every member plays a defensive role. Businesses should regularly update employees regarding changing online threats and use techniques to maintain a robust human firewall.

The role of bollards does not end at forming a barrier between ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe.’ They inherently possess the function of controlling traffic both ways; they not only prevent intrusion but also control outflow providing an in-depth security feature that’s often overlooked. This can inhibit lateral movements within the system that malicious entities might use to access higher-value targets, thereby reducing the risk of internal intrusions and data breaches.

User access controls, software patches, system updates, periodic security audits and assessments, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing are part of these unseen bollards. Combined, they form a fully cohesive bollard system, providing multi-vector and multi-layered defence against various forms of cyber attacks.

The evolution of bollards from physical to virtual delineates the innovative use of familiar concepts in a new context. In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, employing both bollards and human factors is essential in creating a comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystem to ward off every possible attempt at cyber-attacks whilst ensuring smooth operation and protection for any business or individual in digital space.

Bollards FAQs