Decoding CyberSecurity: How Terminology Shapes the Field

Cybersecurity stands at the forefront of protecting today's digital infrastructures and personal data. While significant technical and organizational advances have been made, it is crucial to periodically step back and question whether our current cybersecurity philosophy, concepts and models remain fit for purpose of resilience in a rapidly evolving environment. This collection of essays critically examines the prevailing understanding of cybersecurity, contrasts it with an alternative vision, and explores the foundational model on which this practice is based. Rather than offering a definitive new definition, the intention is to "shake things up" and provoke a deeper conversation on whether a shift in paradigm is warranted. By challenging the assumptions held by researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, this work aims to foster innovative thinking that can guide cybersecurity toward a more resilient and adaptive future model. Ultimately, it is a call to reassess current approaches and inspire further debate, research, and action, ensuring that our strategies remain aligned with the emerging challenges of a never-ending increase interconnected digital world. This article serves as an initial exploration into the meaning of the term "cyber()security", analysing how its usage and interpretation evolve, shaped by the communities of practice that have adopted it.

Keywords: Essay, Cybersecurity, Cyber security, Concept, Definition, Theories, Model, Risk.