Practical examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples for 2025

Real-world examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples

Most people first meet cybersecurity software through a pop-up on their laptop: “Threat blocked” or “Update required.” That’s a start, but it barely scratches the surface. To make sense of the landscape, it helps to walk through real examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples that security teams deploy every day.

Think of your environment in layers:

• Devices (laptops, phones, servers)
• Network (routers, firewalls, VPNs)
• Identity (logins, MFA, single sign-on)
• Cloud and SaaS (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Microsoft 365, Salesforce)
• Monitoring and response (logs, alerts, incident response)

Each layer has its own category of tools. The best examples are the ones you can picture in action, so let’s start there.

Endpoint protection: example of cybersecurity software on every laptop

Endpoint security is usually the first thing people think of when they ask for examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples. This is the software that runs directly on laptops, desktops, and servers.

Classic antivirus has evolved into endpoint detection and response (EDR) and extended detection and response (XDR). Instead of just matching known malware signatures, modern tools watch behavior, block suspicious actions in real time, and send telemetry back to a central console.

Common real examples include:

• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint – Built into Windows 10/11 and Microsoft 365 E5. It correlates suspicious behavior (like PowerShell abuse or Office macro exploitation) and can automatically isolate a compromised device from the network.
• CrowdStrike Falcon – A cloud-native EDR platform widely used in enterprises. It shines at detecting lateral movement, credential theft, and ransomware behavior, not just known malware hashes.
• SentinelOne – Uses AI models on the endpoint to spot unusual behavior (for example, an office worker’s laptop suddenly encrypting hundreds of files per minute) and can roll back filesystem changes.

A realistic scenario: a user opens a malicious attachment that tries to drop ransomware. Defender for Endpoint notices the process spawning command-line tools to encrypt files, kills the process, and flags the device in the security portal. That one incident already shows why endpoint tools are among the best examples of cybersecurity software in day-to-day defense.

Authoritative background on malware and endpoint threats is available from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) at https://www.cisa.gov.

Network security: examples include firewalls, VPNs, and secure web gateways

Move one layer out from the device and you hit the network. Here, classic examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples include firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and secure web gateways.

Modern firewalls are often called next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) because they understand applications, not just IP addresses and ports. They can block risky apps, inspect encrypted traffic, and enforce user-based policies.

Real examples:

• Palo Alto Networks NGFW – Frequently used at enterprise perimeters and in data centers. It can block known bad IPs, detect command-and-control traffic, and enforce policies like “only HR can reach this payroll SaaS.”
• Fortinet FortiGate – Popular in mid-market networks. Combines firewall, VPN, and basic web filtering in a single appliance or virtual machine.
• Cisco Secure Firewall – Often found in environments that already use Cisco networking gear; integrates with identity and network access controls.

On top of that, secure web gateways and DNS filters like Zscaler Internet Access or Cisco Umbrella route web traffic through inspection points that block phishing domains, malware downloads, and risky categories of sites.

A simple example of how this plays out: an employee clicks a phishing link that leads to a credential-harvesting site. The DNS filter recognizes the domain as malicious, blocks the request, and logs the attempt. Even if endpoint protection missed the email, the network layer still saves the day.

Identity and access: examples of cybersecurity software that guard logins

Attackers increasingly target identities instead of just machines. That’s why identity and access management (IAM) platforms are now front-and-center among the best examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples.

Key categories here include:

• Single sign-on (SSO)
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Privileged access management (PAM)

Real examples:

• Okta – A dedicated identity provider that connects users to hundreds of SaaS apps with SSO and enforces MFA, conditional access, and device checks.
• Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) – The identity backbone for Microsoft 365 and Azure. It uses conditional access rules like “block sign-ins from new countries unless MFA is passed.”
• Duo Security (Cisco Duo) – Specializes in MFA and device trust, often layered on top of existing VPNs and apps.
• CyberArk – A reference example of privileged access management that rotates passwords for admin accounts, stores secrets securely, and controls who can use powerful credentials.

A realistic example of introduction to cybersecurity software examples for identity: an attacker steals a password through phishing. Without MFA, they log straight into email and pivot into the rest of the environment. With Entra ID conditional access and Duo MFA, the login from a foreign IP triggers an additional factor challenge; the attacker fails, and security gets an alert.

For guidance on identity best practices, see NIST’s digital identity guidelines at https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3/.

Cloud and container security: best examples for modern infrastructure

As workloads move to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, the best examples of cybersecurity software now include cloud-native protection. Instead of just scanning servers, these tools inspect configurations, APIs, and container workloads.

Key categories:

• Cloud security posture management (CSPM)
• Cloud workload protection platforms (CWPP)
• Kubernetes and container security

Real examples:

• Prisma Cloud (Palo Alto Networks) – Monitors AWS, Azure, and GCP accounts for misconfigurations (like public S3 buckets or open security groups) and risky container images.
• Wiz – Popular in 2024–2025 for its agentless scanning of cloud accounts, mapping internet exposure, secrets in images, and vulnerable services.
• Aqua Security – Focused on container and Kubernetes security, scanning images for vulnerabilities and enforcing runtime policies.

Here’s a concrete example: a developer accidentally exposes an S3 bucket with sensitive logs. A CSPM tool like Wiz or Prisma Cloud detects that the bucket is public, flags it as a high-risk misconfiguration, and can automatically lock it down. This is a textbook example of introduction to cybersecurity software examples that are specific to cloud-native environments.

For cloud security guidance, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides reference architectures and controls at https://csrc.nist.gov.

Monitoring and response: SIEM, SOAR, and threat intelligence examples

Once you have tools across endpoints, networks, identity, and cloud, you need something to pull the signals together. That’s where SIEM (security information and event management), SOAR (security orchestration, automation, and response), and threat intelligence platforms come in.

These categories often confuse beginners, so they’re perfect for clear examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples:

• SIEM tools collect logs from everywhere, normalize them, and alert on suspicious patterns.
• SOAR tools automate playbooks: if X happens, run Y response actions.
• Threat intelligence platforms aggregate data about known bad IPs, domains, malware families, and attacker behaviors.

Real examples:

• Splunk Enterprise Security – A SIEM that ingests logs from firewalls, servers, cloud platforms, and EDR. Analysts use it to hunt for lateral movement, failed logins, and data exfiltration.
• Microsoft Sentinel – A cloud-native SIEM/SOAR on Azure that integrates deeply with Microsoft 365, Defender, and Entra ID.
• IBM QRadar – A long-standing SIEM used in many regulated sectors.
• Recorded Future – A threat intelligence platform that enriches alerts with context about attacker groups, campaigns, and infrastructure.

Example scenario: an attacker logs in with a stolen account, then runs suspicious PowerShell commands on a server. Defender for Endpoint logs the behavior, Entra ID logs the login, and the firewall logs new outbound connections. Sentinel correlates these events, raises a high-priority incident, and triggers an automated playbook to disable the account and isolate the device.

This kind of end-to-end incident flow is one of the best examples of how different cybersecurity software examples combine into a working defense system.

Email and web security: examples include phishing and malware defenses

Email remains a primary attack vector. That’s why many practical examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples start with email security gateways and phishing protection.

Representative tools:

• Proofpoint Email Protection – Scans inbound and outbound email for phishing, malware, and data loss. Can rewrite URLs to route them through a safe-clicking service.
• Microsoft Defender for Office 365 – Adds phishing and malware protection on top of Exchange Online, with features like Safe Links and Safe Attachments.
• Mimecast – Common in enterprises for email filtering, archiving, and continuity.

On the web side, secure web gateways and browser isolation tools inspect or sandbox web traffic. For high-risk users, some organizations route all unknown sites through a remote browser, so even if the site is malicious, the user’s endpoint never executes the code.

Real example: a CFO receives a well-crafted spear-phishing email with a link to a fake Microsoft 365 login page. The secure email gateway detects suspicious characteristics, quarantines the message, and alerts the security team. If the email slips through, a DNS filter or browser isolation layer still has a chance to block the malicious page.

For general cyber safety advice that matches what these tools defend against, see CISA’s guidance for individuals and businesses at https://www.cisa.gov/publication/cyber-essentials.

Data protection: DLP and encryption as examples of cybersecurity software

Protecting data itself is another category where you’ll see strong examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples. Data loss prevention (DLP) tools and encryption platforms focus on where sensitive information lives, how it moves, and who can access it.

Examples include:

• Symantec DLP (Broadcom) – Monitors endpoints, networks, and storage for sensitive data patterns (like Social Security numbers or financial records) and can block or log transfers.
• Microsoft Purview – Labels data with sensitivity levels and applies encryption and access policies across Microsoft 365 and beyond.
• Vera / Seclore – Applies persistent file-level encryption and access control, so documents remain protected even when they leave your network.

Example scenario: an employee tries to email a spreadsheet with thousands of patient records to a personal Gmail account. DLP policies detect the pattern of protected health information (PHI), block the outbound email, and notify compliance. This kind of enforcement is a practical example of introduction to cybersecurity software examples that align with regulatory requirements like HIPAA.

For official guidance on protecting health data, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) publishes HIPAA security resources at https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/index.html.

2024–2025 trends shaping cybersecurity software examples

Looking across all these categories, a few trends define the best examples of cybersecurity software in 2024–2025:

• AI-assisted detection and response – Vendors increasingly use machine learning to spot anomalies, summarize incidents, and guide analysts. Tools like Microsoft Copilot for Security and AI features in CrowdStrike Falcon are early real examples.
• Consolidation into platforms – Instead of buying ten point products, organizations lean toward integrated suites (for example, Microsoft Defender XDR or Palo Alto’s platform). This changes how we think about examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples, because one product now spans multiple layers.
• Zero trust architectures – Identity, device health, and context now drive access decisions. Identity providers and endpoint tools are central, not optional extras.
• Cloud-first security – CSPM, CWPP, and SaaS security posture management (SSPM) are no longer niche. They’re standard examples when teams discuss new cybersecurity software.

When you evaluate tools, it helps to map them back to the layers we walked through: endpoint, network, identity, cloud, data, and monitoring. If you can explain how a product fits into those real examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples, you’re already ahead of most vendor pitch decks.

FAQ: examples of cybersecurity software in practice

Q1. What are some common examples of cybersecurity software for small businesses?
For small businesses, practical examples include Microsoft Defender (built into Windows), a cloud-based firewall or DNS filter like Cisco Umbrella, MFA from Duo or Microsoft Entra ID, and a basic backup solution. Many small teams also use email filtering from Microsoft Defender for Office 365 or Google Workspace.

Q2. Can you give an example of cybersecurity software that protects remote workers?
A typical remote setup might combine an EDR agent like CrowdStrike Falcon or Defender for Endpoint on the laptop, a VPN or zero trust access service for reaching internal apps, and MFA via Duo or Okta. DNS filtering or a secure web gateway adds another layer when workers browse from home networks.

Q3. What are the best examples of open-source cybersecurity tools to learn on?
Popular examples include Wireshark for network traffic analysis, Suricata or Snort for intrusion detection, Zeek for network monitoring, and Wazuh for log analysis and SIEM-like features. These are widely used in training labs and real environments.

Q4. Which examples of cybersecurity software are most important in cloud environments?
In cloud, focus on CSPM tools (like Wiz or Prisma Cloud), native cloud security services (AWS GuardDuty, Azure Defender), strong identity controls in Entra ID or AWS IAM, and logging into a SIEM like Microsoft Sentinel. These examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples give you visibility into misconfigurations, suspicious activity, and access patterns.

Q5. Is antivirus still relevant, or has it been replaced by newer tools?
Traditional signature-only antivirus is fading, but it has evolved into modern endpoint protection and EDR. Products like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or SentinelOne still include antivirus capabilities, but they add behavioral analysis, threat hunting, and automatic response, making them stronger examples of how endpoint security works today.

If you remember nothing else, remember this: the most useful examples of introduction to cybersecurity software examples are the ones you can connect to a specific scenario—stopping a phishing email, blocking a bad login, catching a misconfigured cloud bucket, or isolating an infected laptop. Once you can tell those stories, the product names and categories finally start to make sense.