Are you confused about the difference between cyber security and information security? Do you need a complete guide to cyber protection policies? Read on to find out everything you need to know about keeping your data safe from cyber attacks.
Cyber security and information security are two different but related fields with a shared goal of protecting data. However, they have different focus areas and approaches. In this blog, we’ll explore the differences between cyber security and information security so that you can better understand each one. After reading this, you’ll know the key differences between these two important fields.
Table of Content
- What Is Information Security?
- What Is Cyber Security?
- What are Cloud and Network Security?
- Cyber Security Threats and Attacks
- Cyber Security vs. Information Security
What Is Information Security?
Information security, otherwise known as “InfoSec”, is the term given to the various procedures and practices that companies use to protect their data from being accessed by unauthorized individuals. This can include anything from policy settings that prevent certain people from accessing company information, to measures taken to physically secure data.
As technology advances and changes rapidly, so too does the landscape of information security – meaning that it encompasses everything from network and security design, to testing and auditing.
The goal of information security is to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, modification, recording, disruption, or destruction. This includes important data like client account information, financial information, or intellectual property. By securing this data, we can preserve the privacy of those who are affected by it.
What Is Cyber Security?
Cyber security is the practice of securing computer systems, networks, devices, and applications from cyber attacks. With the continuous spread of digital transformation, cyber security threats have risen to critical levels, putting your sensitive data at risk.
That’s why it’s important to have a strong cyber security strategy in place to protect your data from potential attacks.
Organisations and national governments are perceiving cyber security as a key concern because of its complexity in geopolitics and the fact that attack methods are more dispersed. Many firms are therefore increasingly including information risk management into their overall risk management strategy.
Cyber Security is usually considered a target against the following threats :
- Social Engineering
- Phishing/Vishing/Smishing
- Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Phish Kits
- Pretexting
- Baiting
- Quid Pro Quo
What are Cloud and Network Security?
Cloud and network security are both important aspects of keeping your data safe and secure. They both involve encryption and other security measures to protect your data from being accessed by unauthorized people.
Network security is all about protecting your online space from any unauthorized access or activity. This includes making sure that only authorized users can access your network, and that all data passing through your network is encrypted.
To solidify your network’s security, consider implementing firewalls to block any unauthorized traffic from accessing your system in the first place.
Cloud security is all about protecting your data from unauthorized access or modification. This includes making sure that only authorized users can access your data, and that all data stored in the cloud is encrypted.
Cloud security also involves using firewalls and other security measures to prevent unauthorized access to your data.
Both cloud and network security are essential for any company that wants to protect its data. However, each type of security has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Before choosing a security solution for your data, you should consider both options and how they might work together to create a comprehensive security strategy.
Cyber Security Threats and Attacks
Many cybersecurity threats and attacks can jeopardize the security of individuals, businesses, and governments. Some of the most common include:
- Phishing scams are emails or other communications that appear to be from a legitimate source. Still, they are actually from attackers trying to trick you into revealing personal information or infecting your computer with malware.
- Malware is short for “malicious software” and refers to programs designed to damage or disable computers. Common types of malware include viruses, worms, and trojan horses.
- Denial of service (DoS) attacks are attempts to make a computer or network resource unavailable to its intended users by overwhelming the target with traffic or requests for data.
- SQL injection attacks take advantage of vulnerabilities in web applications that use Structured Query Language (SQL) to interact with databases. Attackers can insert malicious SQL code into input fields on a web page to execute unauthorized actions or access sensitive data.
- Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks are a type of injection attack in which malicious code is injected into a web page or web application. Attackers can steal cookies, login credentials, and other sensitive information.
- Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks are a type of eavesdropping attack in which the attacker intercepts communications between two parties and eavesdrops on or alters the data.
- Buffer overflow attacks occur when an attacker attempts to write more data to a memory buffer than it can hold, leading to data corruption or execution of malicious code.
Cyber Security vs. Information Security
There is still some debate online about whether information security and cyber security are the same thing, but it makes sense to look at cyber security as a form of information security.
Information security can be thought of as an umbrella, with cyber security and other topics like cryptography and mobile computing falling under it.
It can be tough to make a clear distinction between cyber security and information security, especially because something as simple as geography can play a role in how the terms are used. For example, in the United States, the term “cyber security” is used more frequently than “information security.”
However, in other countries around the world, it’s vice versa. This and other factors have helped contribute to the ongoing debate about which term is more accurate.
When it comes to the distinction between cyber security and information security, it’s important to understand that while cyber security focuses on protecting information in cyberspace, information security encompasses protecting data both in cyberspace and beyond.
In other words, the Internet or endpoint device may only be part of the larger picture when it comes to information security. Both involve protecting cyberspace from hacks, which can include ransomware, spyware, malware, and other types of harmful software that can cause all kinds of havoc. However, cyber security professionals typically have a more narrow focus.
Cyber Security | Information Security |
Protects data in cyberspace | Helps secure avenues to access data |
Risks include malware and network attacks | Need to secure misinformation and entry |
Hardened data using encryption | Takes compliance and policies into account |
Conclusion
We hope you have enjoyed our blog post on Cyber Security vs. Information Security. It is our hope that you will be able to use this information to make sure that you and your company are protected from the growing threat of cyber crime.
TopD Learning is a great place to learn online courses at reasonable prices.
With industry experts and leaders are instructors, you’ll be able to learn & master the concepts and put them into use quickly and efficiently.
You can checkout all the Cyber Security courses provide by TopD Learning or you can choose to learn something else from the wide variety of courses offered by us.
If you have any further questions about this subject, please contact us anytime. Thank you for reading!