Businesses are relying more on computer systems, strengthening the link between cybersecurity and information security but there are key differences that need to be understood as part of best-in-class information risk management.
To learn about the differences between these two terms, and how to correctly leverage their processes to strengthen sensitive data security, read on.
Cybersecurity Vs. Information Security
Cybersecurity is concerned with protecting electronic devices and mobile devices against attacks in cyberspace. Information security (Info Sec) is concerned with protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
Cybersecurity deals with the prevention of ransomware attacks and spyware injections and social media compromise. An example of an information security controls are intrusion detection systems and firewalls.
The job of an information security officer is to understand and identify what confidential information is critical or could be the target of a physical or cyber attack.
It's becoming increasingly common for the majority of business data and sensitive information to be sitting on a cloud provider like an AWS S3 bucket, laptop or somewhere else on the Internet.
But a decade ago the majority of sensitive information was sitting in an office filing cabinet. This is where information security professionals originate from, physically securing data from unauthorized access by implementing access controls.
Cybersecurity can also be described as a process of preventing cyberattacks by assuming a hacker's mindset, while information security focuses on protecting data from threats.
The Parallels Between Information Security and Cyber Security
Cybersecurity and information security are fundamental to information risk management.
And while cyber security professionals are largely concerned with securing electronic data from cyber threats and data breaches, there are still forms of physical security in their job description.
Just as information security professionals lock a cabinet full of personal information, cyber security professionals need physical security measures to ensure adequate data protection. You can't physically lock a laptop, but you can have security systems in place (like a keycard to get into an office) to prevent unauthorized access in the first place.
Regardless of how your information is stored, your organization needs adequate security controls in place to prevent unauthorized access. If you don't, your organization is an easy target for cybercrime and physical security breaches.
Information Value is a Fundamental Part of the Equation
As we alluded to at the start of this post, not all data is as valuable as others just like the difference in value of physical goods. Cybercriminals would rather steal personal information than the event data of a web page. Different information systems have different value and it's important to understand what to prioritize in any security program.
Measuring cybersecurity risk means understanding the threats, vulnerabilities and value of an electric information asset.
This is where an Info Sec professional can help a cyber security professional understand how to prioritize the protection of information while the cyber security professional can determine how to implement IT security.
The Evolution of Cybersecurity
As businesses become more reliant on computer systems and the impact of potential data breaches increases. The role of the Info Sec professional is quickly becoming a key part of the cyber security professional's role who traditionally had to understand computer security, network security, malware, phishing and other cyber threats but weren't necessarily taught the skills of data evaluation in their computer science, information technology or cyber security degree.
Confidentiality, integrity and availability (CIA triad) may not necessarily be terms cyber security professionals are familiar with but they are part of any good information security policy. A key part of cyber security is understanding a subset of information security.
Organizations are increasingly looking to secure information, manage cyber risk, ensure non-repudiation (someone cannot deny an action taken within an information system because the system provides proof of the action), and proper incident response to data breaches and other cybercrimes.
Final Thoughts
Cybersecurity and information security are continuously evolving. Security teams need to understand the key question: what is our most critical data and how do we protect it?
How UpGuard Can Help Protect Your Most Sensitive Information
UpGuard continuously monitors your entire attack surface to discover and mitigate risks exposing sensitive data. This functionality extends to the entire vendor network, minimizing the risk of third-party breaches and supply chain attacks.
