Difference between cyber security and information security

Demystifying Information Security, Cybersecurity, IT Security, and IT Compliance

In today's digital age, where technology plays a pivotal role in both our personal and professional lives, the security of our valuable assets, including business records, personal data, and intellectual property, is of paramount importance. To safeguard these assets from malicious threats, various security practices have been developed, such as Information Security, Cybersecurity, IT Security, and IT Compliance. While these terms might sound daunting to non-technical individuals, this article aims to shed light on their significance and how they work together to ensure a safer digital world.

Information Security: Safeguarding Valuable Assets

Information Security is a comprehensive term encompassing various measures designed to protect information and information systems from unauthorized access, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. The ultimate goal is to provide confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. Imagine your information as a well-guarded fortress with multiple layers of protection, ensuring that only those with the right keys can enter and access its treasures. In the world of information security, those keys are strong passwords, encryption, firewalls, and access controls.

• The protection of information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption modification, or destruction in order to provide confidentiality, integrity, and availability. (NIST, ‘Infosec’)

Cybersecurity: Defending the Digital Domain

Cybersecurity is a specialized subset of Information Security that focuses on safeguarding digital information and assets. Think of it as the digital security team that guards your online presence and virtual properties. Cybersecurity involves the prevention of damage to computers, networks, programs, devices, and servers, along with ensuring the availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation of digital assets. In simpler terms, it's like having a vigilant bodyguard that protects your digital assets from cybercriminals and hackers.

• Information security is a general term for the way organisations and individuals protect their valuable assets – whether that’s business records, personal data, intellectual property, etc.

IT Security: The Technical Protectors

IT Security refers to the implementation of effective technical controls to protect company assets. It comprises a wide range of technical measures and solutions that work together to create a secure environment for information and digital resources. For non-tech-savvy individuals, think of IT Security as a shield that blocks potential threats and vulnerabilities, ensuring that your digital assets remain safe and sound.

• Prevention of damage to, protection of, and restoration of computers, electronic communications systems, electronic communications services, wire communication, and electronic communication, including information contained therein, to ensure its availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and nonrepudiation. (NIST, ‘Cybersecurity’)

IT Compliance: Meeting Regulatory and Contractual Obligations

IT Compliance is all about following third-party regulatory or contractual requirements. Organizations must adhere to industry regulations, government policies, security frameworks, and client/customer contractual terms. In essence, it's like adhering to a set of rules and guidelines to ensure that your security practices meet the standards set by various governing bodies. Imagine it as a checklist that helps businesses ensure they are meeting the necessary security requirements to operate safely in the digital realm.

• Cyber security is a specific type of information security that refers to the ways that organisations protect digital information, such as networks, programs, devices, servers and other digital assets.
• IT compliance: The practice of meeting a third party's regulatory or contractual requirements, Examples

○ Industry regulations

○ Government policies

○ Security frameworks

○ Client/customer contractual terms

While the world of Information Security, Cybersecurity, IT Security, and IT Compliance may seem complex and technical, their core principles are essential for everyone, regardless of technical background. Understanding these concepts allows individuals and organizations to recognize the significance of securing their valuable assets in today's interconnected world.

Both information security and cyber security share the same end goal of protecting information, with cyber security focusing more on the digital realm in which information may be stored, accessed or transmitted.

(IT Security: The practice of implementing effective technical controls to protect company assets)

By implementing robust security practices, being vigilant against cyber threats, and complying with industry regulations, we can collectively create a safer and more secure digital environment for all. So, the next time you hear these terms, remember that they are all part of a broader effort to protect what matters most in the digital era: our information and assets.