Event

Event is a type of signal or change in state, a concept which has relevance in computer programming and cybersecurity. Events are defined within the context of a computer program as “being any detectable occurrence in the program, or an occurrence that has to be detected by the program.” Events in computer programming and cybersecurity can include user actions like clicking buttons, mouse movements, or key presses; system notifications like the completion of a process or the availability of a resource; or environmental factors communicated from an external source. In these ways, events allow programs and systems to detect and respond to changes in the environment, staying secure and up-to-date.

Events are generally communicated to a program either synchronously or asynchronously. Synchronous events are events which are detected and processed at the same time, such as a user action coming from a window interface. Asynchronous events are events which are detected at one time and processed at another time, such as an external environmental factor that must be processed separately.

In computer programming and cybersecurity, events are processed in a variety of ways. The program can respond directly to the event (for example, a button is clicked and the program responds by displaying a pop up window), or the event can be sent to a system event loop or event-driven architecture which handles the application logic associated with it. In the case of complex events, multiple smaller events can be composed to create a larger event (such as a multi-step workflow).

In cybersecurity, events can be processed for use in intrusion detection and prevention. Network security events can be monitored in a security information and event management (SIEM) system which can monitor events across a range of sources. Events are correlated and analyzed to detect and respond to threat activity.

Events are integral to the operation of modern computer systems and cybersecurity systems. With their ability to detect and respond to changes in program state and environment, events let systems adapt quickly and remain secure and up-to-date.