Meaning & use
cyber security
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The practice of protecting computers, networks, and data from attacks or unauthorized access.
Grammar: No plural; used like 'security' or 'safety'. Say 'cyber security is important', not 'a cyber security'.
Patterns
- cyber security measures
- improve cyber security
- a cyber security expert
The company hired a team to handle cyber security after the data breach.
Poor cyber security can expose millions of customer records.
Governments are investing more in cyber security to protect critical infrastructure.
noununcountable
The field or industry concerned with defending against digital threats.
Grammar: Often used before another noun to describe jobs or products: cyber security analyst, cyber security software.
Patterns
- work in cyber security
- a career in cyber security
She works in cyber security for a major bank.
Many universities now offer degrees in cyber security.
The cyber security industry is growing rapidly.
Common combinations
- cyber security threat
- A new cyber security threat emerged last week.
- cyber security breach
- The cyber security breach affected thousands of users.
- cyber security policy
- Every employee must follow the company's cyber security policy.
- cyber security awareness
- Training can improve cyber security awareness among staff.
- national cyber security
- National cyber security is a top priority for the government.
Synonyms and how they differ
- information security
- Broader term that also covers paper records and physical data, not just digital systems.
- IT security
- Focuses on the technical systems themselves rather than the whole organization's defense.
Word family
- cyber prefix
- Relating to computers or networks, as in cyberattack.
- cybersecurity noun
- American spelling of the same word.
Commonly confused: cyber security or cybercrime?
cyber security vs cybercrime
Cybercrime is the illegal activity itself; cyber security is the effort to prevent it.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'cyber security' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Cyber security' is uncountable, so it has no plural and no article 'a'. Option 0 uses it correctly as a mass noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cyber security”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.