Cybersecurity Vs. Information Security: What is the Difference?
To most ordinary people, information security and cybersecurity are one and the same and, therefore, interchangeable.
While the principle underlying both cybersecurity and information security are similar, the implementation and focus of the two are significantly different.
Both sectors have very distinct paths which never cross. In this article, we’ll discuss cybersecurity vs. information security and go over the functions and scope of each sector to clear confusions and misconceptions you may have between the two.
However, before we compare both, let’s briefly learn about each sector individually.
What is Cyber Security?
Cyber security is the sector that encompasses keeping computer systems and devices safe from cyber threats and network security against all types of cyberattacks.
As digital transformation spreads rapidly, cybersecurity becomes a growing concern. This is because cyber threats can put your sensitive data in the wrong hands. As a result, cyberattacks make protecting personal privacy all the more crucial.
Because of the complexity of geopolitics and the spread of attacks, organizations and governments have come to view cyber security as a top priority. Consequently, information risk management is increasingly becoming a vital part of a company’s overall risk management strategy.
Cyber security is typically seen as a target for the following cyber threats:
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
- Malware Attacks
- Social Engineering
- Poor configuration of Cloud services
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
The NIST framework outlines standards, recommendations, and best practices for cyber security and cybersecurity professionals to fulfill the needs of the US industry, federal agencies, and the general public.
Their work ranges from delivering precise data that organizations may use right away to longer-term research that forecasts technological advancements and future issues that may arise. NIST also works to better understand and manage threats to privacy, some of which are linked closely with cybersecurity.
Now that you have some knowledge of cyber security, let’s look at the basics of information security, its functions, who uses it, and its benefits.
What is Information Security?
Information security, sometimes referred to as InfoSec among industry professionals, is the name for all the processes and practices used by firms for data security.
Information security entails policy settings to stop unauthorized people from gaining company or employee data access. This sector is dynamic, rapidly evolving into sub-disciplines such as network and security program design to testing and security auditing.
The role of infosec is to instate security controls to safeguard sensitive data from unauthorized electronic access, including scrutiny, modification, disruption, destruction, etc. Companies can ensure client, financial, and intellectual data protection through an information security program.
Now that you have a basic understanding of both sectors, let’s discuss the critical differences between cybersecurity and information security.
Cybersecurity and Information Security
There seems to be much debate about whether cybersecurity and information security are the same throughout online communities and infosec forums.
However, most security professionals would agree that cyber security, among other sectors of digital security such as mobile computing and cryptography, comes under the umbrella of information security.
Geography and Language Differences
Separating the two can sometimes be challenging, especially when geography and language differences are involved.
For instance, in the US, cybersecurity is a widely used term specific to its unique functions, but elsewhere in the world, many simply use the blanket term information security.
Scope of Cyber Security Vs. Information Security
Another clear distinction in the cybersecurity vs. information security debate comes in the form of their specific scope; the former deals with protecting data in cyberspace while the latter handles that and more.
To put it another way, the Internet or the endpoint device may only be a small part of the whole picture.
Cyber Security Professionals
Both cyber security and Infosec entail safeguarding cyberspace from attacks, which might include ransomware, spyware, malware, and other types of malicious software capable of wreaking havoc. Cyber security experts, however, have a narrower focus.
Cyber security experts actively assist in the protection of servers, endpoints, databases, and networks by identifying gaps and misconfigurations that cause vulnerabilities. Essentially, they are in charge of preventing security breaches.
The most gifted cyber security professionals can think like hackers and may have already worked as one at some point.
Information Security Professionals
In general, data loss prevention is a problem for information security specialists. They collaborate with their cyber counterparts on it. Still, they may also play a more prominent role in prioritizing the most critical data and devising a plan to recover from a data breach.
Fundamental Difference Between Data and Information
It is quite beneficial to consider the distinction between data and information on a far more basic level. Data can be anything — numbers, pictures, symbols, etc. — but not all data is the same.
Information security professionals are responsible for determining what data represents and how sensitive it is.
For instance, consider data that represents a customer’s credit card information. In this case, the information security teams would be responsible for ensuring the data is compliant with regulatory rules.
Information specialists collaborate closely with their cybersecurity counterparts to ensure the safety of the most sensitive data. However, they are in charge of a considerably more significant portion of an organization’s overall security.
Final Thoughts
As you reach the end of this article, we’re sure you’re aware of how cybersecurity and information security are different.
In a nutshell, information security is an umbrella term that includes cyber security, among other types of security. Therefore, the scope of infosec is much larger than the narrow focus of cyber security.
If you’re new to the IT industry, you may select either of these sectors to build a career in. That being said, remember that the market still tends to prefer the security side of things.
If you are pursuing a career in IT and securities because you have a passion for the discipline, go with the field that feels like your calling. If, however, you wish to tap into the lucrative job market of the information security industry, opt for the area with a more extensive scope to cast as wide a net as possible.
