Cybersecurity for Information Professionals

Abstract

Digital technologies and innovation can be a double-edged sword. Recognizing that cyberspace is an integral component of all facets of national interests (including economy and defense), increasingly nations are articulating their national cyber strategies and outlining efforts to harden national cybersecurity and deter malicious actors from launching digital attacks. The escalating cyber attacks can come from insider threats for data breaches or other malevolent tactics by cyber criminals (such as ransomware, viruses, spyware, phishing, and other malicious endeavors). There are other types of cyber attacks resulting from well-meant initiatives such as open access or globally shared data, information, and knowledge. As cultural heritage institutions embrace digital environments, they are facing unprecedented pressures to ensure privacy and reduce the exposure of their institutions to all kinds of data-related risks. This chapter briefly reviews the current status of data security and argues in favor of balancing the open access aspirations of cultural heritage institutions with the need for privacy and data confidentiality.