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Cybersecurity and information security are often used interchangeably, however, they are not the same. The two terms address different kinds of security, which is why it is important for organizations to understand the difference between the two. Knowing this will help you build comprehensive security infrastructures and improve your organization’s security posture.
What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the framework of protecting and securing anything that is vulnerable to hacks, attacks, or unauthorized access, which mainly consists of computers, networks, servers, and programs. Cybersecurity also only pertains to the protection of data that originates in a digital form. This means that cybersecurity is specific to digital files, which is the key differentiator between it and information security.
What is information security?
Information security refers to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data, regardless of its form. Information security does not always apply to digital data, as it is also concerned with protecting physical data such as printed documents.
When creating information security programs be sure to uphold the following data frameworks:
- Integrity, which means guarding against improper information modification or destruction, and includes ensuring information nonrepudiation and authenticity
- Confidentiality, which means preserving authorized restrictions on access and disclosure, including means for protecting personal privacy and proprietary information and
- Availability, which means ensuring timely and reliable access to and use of information.
Be sure to work with your IT team to create individual information security and cybersecurity systems. Doing so will bolster your overall security and improve the efficiency of your ability to manage threats.