Digital defenders are engaged in an ongoing struggle with cyber attacks on the unforgiving battlefield of cybersecurity. The need to protect our data and systems grows more critical as our reliance on digital technology increases. Blockchain technology has become a dominant force in this environment and is poised to change cybersecurity.
In the digital age, when data has developed into the currency of the global economy, the field of cybersecurity acts as a crucial first line of defense against the never-ending surge of cyber threats. Parallel to this, blockchain technology has grown into a potent force that holds the potential to restructure financial institutions and alter how cybersecurity is carried out. Blockchain technology’s immutable, decentralized ledger provides creative solutions to protecting data and bolstering digital defenses in the fascinating field of cybersecurity.
What Is Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain is a system designed for tracking anything that is of some value securely, transparently, and economically. Now, why the term ‘Blockchain’? It is because every transaction or data is recorded as a “block” of data, which may include one or more data types, like amount, price, or location. Based on the ownership of assets, these blocks link together to form a chain, and there is no scope for failure in these blockchain formations. No participant can break a link to introduce a block since every chain is immutable. An agreed consensus mechanism validates every transaction in the chain which makes it almost impossible to tamper with any of the cryptographic chains.
Blockchain Technology is also the underlying basis of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin but it also has features that are beyond digital currencies. Unlike the centralized systems, where a single entity for example, the Government controls and verifies transactions, this technology runs on a decentralized network of computers. Similar to the centralized system, no single institution has control over these chains and each node (computer) retains a copy of it.
While this technology was initially used to only create digital currencies, it has also found uses in a variety of fields, such as finance for sales and smooth transactions, supply chain management for the tracking of consignments, and healthcare for the management of sensitive patient data, and a lot more.
Types Of Blockchain Technology
Tailored to specific use cases and requirements, blockchain comes in various types. The two primary types of Blockchain Technology are Public and Private. Below is an overview of each:
1. Public Blockchains:
These are open-access networks, which allow anybody to join (also anonymously), verify the transactions, and add new blocks to the chain, as we discussed earlier. The admission is not subject to anybody’s approval, they are dispersed universally across a decentralized network of nodes that are run by volunteers or miners. Within this Public Blockchain Network, transparency and mutual trust among participants are valued above all else.
Now, where are these used? Well, these networks are particularly useful for token issuing, and other things outside cryptocurrency, so in a nutshell, they are useful for various decentralized applications (DApps).
2. Private Blockchains:
Unlike the Public Blockchain network, this one restricts usage to a selected set of users, simply, users cannot join the network without authorization from a central administrator. It is more like a centralized form of system since all the users are known to each other and probably work for the same company. Businesses and organizations frequently use private blockchains internally for tasks like asset tracking, supply chain management, and data exchange with dependable partners. Over public access, they put privacy and control first.
An interesting fact is that due to their permissioned nature and centralized control, they tend to have faster transaction processing speeds and lower latency compared to the Public Blockchain Network.
Therefore, private blockchains are a controlled and permissioned variant of Blockchain Technology that prioritizes privacy, security, and centralized governance, vis-a-vis the Public Blockchain Network. Additionally, some blockchains are designed for specific niches, further diversifying the landscape.
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Cybersecurity & Its Role In The Blockchain Technology:
In the era of digital domination and data-driven economies, cybersecurity has grown to be of the utmost importance, blockchain technology has come out as one of the powerful allies in the fight against the world of online frauds and threats. Due to its strong and powerful decentralized nature, it has the capacity and potential to change cybersecurity operations and protect the digital world from upcoming threats.
Whilst being transparent, economical, and secure, blockchain technologies are pretty quick with their transactions. Real-time data is available anytime for those who wish to attract assets or view transactions, like payment, accounts, and orders within the blockchain network. Additionally, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been experimenting with Blockchain Technology to develop a system that discourages hackers by not only immediately identifying efforts to corrupt data but also by giving the user access to up-to-the-minute intelligence about the bad guy.
Some of the inherent Blockchain Cybersecurity include;
- Decentralization:
Decentralization plays an important role in revolutionizing cybersecurity by making systems stronger against cyberattacks, especially distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Suppose the user is working with the traditional centralized system of Blockchain, they have to depend on an entirely single server to process user requests, now if there are any fraudulent signs, the entire system comes crashing down.
- Collaborative Consensus:
Collaborative Consensus are often referred to as Consensus mechanisms, these are an important component of Blockchain Technology. Their primary role is monitoring the ledger for unusual or fraudulent signs of malicious activity and ensuring the security and integrity of the said Network. The nodes work together to validate transactions and add them to the Blockchain.
- Immutable Data and Data Privacy:
One of the distinguishing features of a Blockchain Network, is immutability, once the data is recorded in the network and the blocks, it becomes almost impossible for anybody to alter or delete any sort of data without the consensus of the majority of the users. This protects the chain from any sort of unauthorized tampering, or compromising data privacy.
On the other hand, while we talk about Data privacy, transparency, and immutable transactions being some of the features, a permissioned blockchain will only allow only trusted networks to view or use the transactions.
- Smart Contract Security:
We did not discuss Smart Contracts anywhere in this article until now, what are these contracts? Smart Contracts are a set of rules stored on the Blockchain that trigger transactions when the conditions are met. This makes payments more convenient, the network remains secure because its components are tested for authentication, data security, access control, and business logic validation.
Wrapping Up:
The digital realm can be seen getting increasingly complex and interconnected, and the need for cybersecurity goes higher day by day and becomes more urgent. Blockchain technology presents hope in the battle of the war against cyber threats. Its ability to inculcate authentication, secure data, and mitigate vulnerabilities positions it as a critical ally for individuals, organizations, and Governments seeking to protect their digital wealth.
