What is the Difference Between Information Security and Cyber Security

The main difference between information security and cyber security is that the information security protects physical and digital information while cyber security only protects digital information.

There is a distinct difference between information security and cyber security even though these two words are used interchangeably. Information security refers to protecting physical and digital data from unauthorized use, access and modification. Cyber security refers to protecting digital data from unauthorized use, access and modification. Both these practices consider the value of data. In other words, information security safeguards data from an illegal access of any kind while cyber security protects data from illegal digital access. In brief, cyber security is a subset of information security.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Information Security
     – Definition, Functionality
2. What is Cyber Security
     – Definition, Functionality
3. What is the Relationship Between Information Security and Cyber Security
     – Outline of Association
4. What is the Difference Between Information Security and Cyber Security
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Cyber Security, Data Security, Information Security, Malware

What is Information Security

Information security is also known as data security. It safeguards business records, personal data or intellectual property.  Information can be kept in multiple places and can be accessed in many ways.  Information is stored in documents, removable disks, laptops, servers, personal devices, and other hosting devices. This information is valuable to individual users as well as the entire business organization. Therefore, they should be kept safely. The process of protecting the information is called information security.

What is Cyber Security

Cyber security refers to taking necessary steps to protect digital information that can be accessed via vulnerabilities in the network or other systems. Cyber-attacks, distributing malware infected software, etc. are threats to information. Cyber security prevents these attacks.

Cyber security professionals handle two types of tasks. They perform investigation tasks such as performing forensic, data recovery and reporting security metrics. They also protect data from malware attacks and develop new malware signatures. They use firewalls and intrusion protection systems to protect data.

Relationship Between Information Security and Cyber Security

• Cyber security is a subset of Information Security.

Difference Between Information Security and Cyber Security

Definition

Information security is the process of guaranteeing that data, including both physical and digital, is safeguarded from unauthorized use, access, disruption, inspection, and modification. Cyber security is the process of guaranteeing that computer data is defended from unauthorized digital attack, access or damage by means of implementing several processes, practices, and technologies. Hence, the basic difference between information security and cyber security stems from the form of data or information that they protect.

Protection

A major difference between information security and cyber security is that the information security focuses on protecting data from any type of illegal access whereas cyber security focuses on protecting data from unauthorized digital access.

Information

While information security is applied to physical and digital information, cyber security is applied to digital information.

Functionality

Information Security protects information from unauthorized access, disclosure, use, modification, disruption or destruction. Cyber security protects information from cybercrimes, cyber frauds, and law enforcement.

Main Focus

Moreover, information Security focuses on information assets such as integrity, confidentiality, and availability while cyber security focuses on protecting social media accounts and personal details.

Task of Professionals

Information security professionals find strategies, policies, solutions and perform risk management. Cyber security professionals perform data recovering, reporting security metrics and install antimalware software.  

Conclusion

The difference between information security and cyber security is that information security protects physical and digital information while cyber security protects only digital information. In brief, Information security prevents unauthorized access of any kind while cyber security prevents unauthorized digital access.

Reference:

1. “Cyber Crime and Cyber Security.” Www.tutorialspoint.com, Tutorials Point, Available here.
2. “What Is Cybersecurity? – Definition from WhatIs.com.” SearchSecurity, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “1944688” (CC0) via Pixabay

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