Data is used as the buzzword for modern businesses. Companies utilize customer data for the betterment of their companies and for providing better services to them. Unfortunately, there has been an increase in the number of data breaches across all businesses. Studies show that the average cost of a cyberattack is around US$ 3.86 million and could take over 200 to detect.
With data security being the need of the times, we must ensure that we understand why we must secure customer data. So often, we find that information security and cybersecurity are being used in the same sense. But we do not understand there is a subtle difference between these terms. In this article, we will discuss the difference between cybersecurity and information security.
What is cybersecurity?
Let us first understand what cybersecurity is. It is about ensuring the data that is in electric form is protected. The data could be present across multiple devices, servers, networks, computers, programs, etc.
In short, it would be the processes involved in protecting any data that is present in the digital form. It involves identifying the criticality of the data, the degree of risk it is exposed to, and what procedures and technologies you must utilize to protect it. The processes involved can defend against attacks undertaken against businesses or even personal devices.
Examples of cybersecurity
The different types of cybersecurity can be broken down into:
Network security - It involves securing the networks traversing the organizations against any unauthorized access, disruption, or service interference. It covers software and hardware solutions and the configurations related to its accessibility and protection against external threats.
Application security - The practice covers the detection, fixing, and improving the security procedure of applications. Your team must find the security issues and fix them to ensure the enterprise is safe. In addition, it must be integrated into the application development environment for a simpler workflow.
Cloud security - It is a combination of procedures, policies, etc., with dedicated controls utilizing the latest technologies. These techniques help to protect the cloud data and infrastructure from outside threats.
Use of SSL certificates - The SSL certificates can ensure that there is an encrypted communication channel with the visitor's browser. If you have multiple domains to be secured, you can use the multi-domain SSL. It proves to be cost-effective if you have various websites. The certificate management is easy too, and you have to interact with a single customer support team as well.
Besides it, there are different SSL types and certificate authorities that offer you cost-effective SSL certificates, for example, GlobalSign certificate, Comodo SSL certificate, RapidSSL certificate, and so on.
You can use several solutions to protect the underlying digital data. You can enhance cybersecurity by using specialized software like antivirus, anti-malware, intrusion prevention systems, etc. They can help in preventing any unauthorized access by specialized programs.
What is information security?
It is the process by which security experts ensure that data in any form is kept secure in cyberspace and other storage areas. It can cover the prevention of access by unauthorized entities when data is transferred from one machine to another. The information to be secured can be on your smartphones or any other information like social media profiles, biometric data, etc.
Not long ago, information was stored across drives, folders, cabinets, apart from desktops, servers, and laptops. Information security involves an area more than just cyberspace and requires data in any form to be secure.
Personal information is valuable and must be kept confidential, and anyone without requisite privileges must be blocked from accessing it. The data must also be kept in proper order and must not be modified in any way. The information must be accessible by authorized personnel at any time. In no way must external entities prevent genuine entities from accessing the data.
Example of information security
Access controls. Organizations must allow access to critical information to only a few authorized personnel. It will help prevent leakage of data and ensure the data is available to only the proper personnel. There should be access controls to the data centers and areas in the building where critical information is stored. Audit logs of the entries to the secure location must be present.
Procedural control points. The organization must have processes in place to prevent security risks to the physical assets in the company. There must be proper security frameworks in place to protect sensitive data. Periodic security training and incident response plans can help too.
Technical controls. It would be best if you had technical controls when users log in to the systems. For example, a robust password policy will work wonders and prevent illegal access to the networks. You can also use two-factor or multi-factor authorization mechanisms to protect sensitive data.
Where do cybersecurity and information security overlap?
One of the common platforms for both is the intent to keep data secure. If the data is in physical form, information security experts will strive to ensure that the data remains safe and does not fall into the hands of unauthorized personnel. While it is understandable that you will have a lock to prevent anyone from accessing the files in your drawer, what would you do to protect stuff online! Adequate safeguards must be provided to ensure data stored online have the requisite controls to prevent unauthorized access. The security personnel of both fields is critical to the business. They can use proper cybersecurity management practices while ensuring adequate controls are present for the physical data too.
The difference between cybersecurity and information security
Let us have an overview of the difference between cybersecurity and information security.
Conclusion
There are various threats that organizations face continuously. Businesses must thwart such attacks by imbibing processes and having the right personnel to prevent these attacks. You will need a particular category of security personnel to mitigate these threats.
But most of us use the terms information security and cybersecurity interchangeably. However, you must know the difference between the two terms and dedicate resources adequately to ensure the safety of the data strewn across the organization.
Once you understand the difference in terms, you can decide on the job roles of the security personnel you will need for various pieces of data across the business.