cyber defense

noun

variants or less commonly cyberdefense
plural cyber defenses also cyberdefenses
1
: steps or measures taken to protect online resources (such as a computer network or database) against unauthorized access or attack : cybersecurity
… the cost of cyberattacks—from business disruption and lost data to system downtime, damage to your company's reputation and even legal liability—is higher than ever. Cyber defense needs to be a major component of your business strategy.Chron.com
Officials said that while traditionally cities and local governments took an independent approach to cyber defense and protecting technology, "acting alone is no longer optimal."Zak Failla
State lawmakers similarly have cyberdefense in focus, allocating approximately $18 million of a $64.1 billion supplemental budget package toward higher education cybersecurity training programs.Greg Mason
2
: the capability to resist cyberattacks
The behavior of employees is also critical for an organization's cyber defense since 82% of data breaches in 2021 involved a "human element."Parvinder Walia
3
cyber defenses also cyberdefenses plural : the software, hardware, etc. used to protect against cyberattacks
Biden issued an urgent warning to American business leaders yesterday, telling them to strengthen their companies' cyber defenses immediately.Alexandra Meeks
Ukraine has been deliberate about creating a volunteer force of hackers, offering rewards for those who can pinpoint flaws in Russian cyberdefenses.Cora Engelbrecht

Examples of cyber defense in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Israel's civilian cyber defense agency is also a user of Recorded Future’s tools. Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 Each stage produces data points and requires a robust cyber defense strategy for humans and critical systems. Dewayne Hart, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024 While companies continue to invest heavily in cyber defense, IT professionals and business leaders still struggle to understand in which specific areas their spending is most needed, as cybersecurity incidents cannot be solved through a one-size-fits-all approach. Sean Brady, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 That’s why leaders from across the organization must work together to coordinate their cyber defenses and insurance. Raja Patel, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cyber defense 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cyber defense.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cyber defense was in 1995

Dictionary Entries Near cyber defense

Cite this Entry

“Cyber defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyber%20defense. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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