How is Data Protection Different from Information Security?

Although these terms are often used interchangeably, it is important to understand the nuances of information security and data protection as they relate to different aspects of protecting sensitive information.

Let's begin with the definitions...

Information Security

Information security refers to the strategies, policies and measures used to protect information assets from unauthorized access, disclosure, modification or destruction.

It encompasses a holistic approach to protecting data, systems, networks and applications from a range of internal and external threats.?

These threats include not only hackers, but also environmental disasters (e.g. fires, floods, natural disasters) and unexpected external circumstances that may initially be overlooked.

Therefore, information security includes the implementation of technical, administrative and physical controls to mitigate risk and ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information using an internationally recognized standard such as ISO 27001.

?

Data Protection

Data protection, on the other hand, is a special area of information security that focuses on protecting personal or sensitive data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure or loss.

This includes compliance with legal and regulatory requirements for the collection, storage, processing and disposal of data.

Data protection measures aim to protect the privacy and rights of individuals and to minimize the potential damage that can result from data breaches or data misuse. The GDPR addresses this protection through regulations.?

Key Differences Between Information Security and Data Protection

Scope:

• Information Security: Encompasses a broad range of practices, including technical, administrative and physical controls, to protect all types of information assets within an organization.
• Data Protection: Concentrates on safeguarding personal or sensitive data, typically governed by privacy laws and regulations.

Objectives:

• Information Security: The aim is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of all information assets, not just personal data. It includes measures such as network security, access controls, encryption, incident response and disaster recovery.
• Data Protection: The focus is on the protection of privacy and the lawful processing of personal data, focusing on aspects such as consent, purpose limitation, data minimization, data retention and individual rights.

Legal and Regulatory Framework:

• Information Security: Alignment with industry best practices, standards and frameworks, such as ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework and CIS Controls. Compliance with these standards helps companies build a solid security posture.
• Data Protection: There is a strong influence from laws and regulations to protect privacy, such as the General Data Protection Regulation

Compliance with the requirements of the GDPR in the European Union and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States is essential to protect the privacy rights of individuals.

Focus on Individuals:

• Information Security: Refers to the protection of the entire information ecosystem, including corporate data, intellectual property and trade secrets, without necessarily focusing on individual data subjects.
• Data Protection: Places great importance on the rights and privacy of individuals and aims to ensure that personal data is collected, processed and stored in a way that respects the rights and freedoms of individuals.

While information security and data protection share a common goal of protecting data, they operate at different levels and serve different purposes.

Information security is a comprehensive approach to protecting all types of information assets, while data protection is a sub-area that focuses specifically on personal or sensitive data.

Organizations must prioritize both information security and data privacy to create a robust and compliant data protection framework that ensures the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data while respecting the rights and privacy of individuals.