Full Editorial
In today’s digital world, the terms ‘information security’ and ‘cybersecurity’ are often used interchangeably. While they are closely related, they are not identical. Understanding the distinction between them is critical to creating a comprehensive security strategy that protects your organization’s most valuable information assets. In this article, we will delve into the definitions of both fields, highlight the key differences between them, and explain how they work together to ensure maximum protection of your information.
What is Information Security and What are its Core Principles?
Information security is a broad field that deals with protecting information in all its forms, both digital and physical. Its primary goal is to protect information assets from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or destruction. Information security is not limited to the world of computing, but rather refers to any type of information that is valuable to an organization, whether it is stored on servers, printed documents, or even knowledge in the minds of employees.
The foundation of information security rests on what is known as the “CIA triad,” an acronym for three fundamental principles: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.
What is Information Confidentiality?
The principle of confidentiality refers to protecting information from disclosure to unauthorized parties. This means that only authorized individuals or systems can access specific information. For example, personal data of customers, trade secrets, or strategic plans of the company – all require a high level of confidentiality. To maintain confidentiality, we use a variety of measures such as encryption, permission-based access controls, and strict security procedures.
Why is Information Integrity So Important?
Information integrity ensures the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of information over time. This principle prevents unauthorized changes to information, whether intentional (such as fraud or data corruption) or unintentional (such as human error or technical malfunction). Maintaining information integrity is essential for making correct decisions and maintaining the reliability of business systems and processes. To ensure integrity, we implement controls such as digital signatures, backups, and log audits.
How Do We Ensure Information Availability?
The principle of availability ensures that information and systems are accessible and available to authorized users at all times, for the proper and continuous operation of the organization. Loss of availability can lead to the shutdown of critical services, significant financial losses, and damage to reputation. To maintain availability, we use solutions such as system redundancy, disaster recovery plans (DRP), frequent backups, and continuous monitoring of system performance.
The scope of information security extends beyond technology and also includes physical security measures (such as secure server rooms) and administrative controls (such as security policies and employee training). All of these together create a comprehensive protective envelope for your information assets.
What is Cybersecurity and What are its Different Layers?
Cybersecurity is a sub-specialty within the world of information security, focusing specifically on protecting digital assets – such as computer systems, networks, digital information, and technological assets – from threats and attacks originating in cyberspace. While information security deals with information in all its forms, cybersecurity focuses on the digital aspect of protection, that is, dealing with threats such as hacking, viruses, malware, ransomware, phishing, and more. Its primary goal is to prevent damage to digital information, ensure the proper functioning of computer systems, and maintain the privacy, integrity, and availability of information in the online environment.
Cybersecurity operates on several layers, each focusing on a different aspect of digital protection:
How Do We Protect Our Networks?
Network security refers to protecting your computer networks – both local networks and internet networks – from unauthorized access, hacking, viruses, malware, and various attack attempts. We use firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), virtual private networks (VPNs), and advanced security protocols to ensure that network communication is secure and that access to it is controlled.
Why is Application and Software Security Important?
Application security focuses on protecting software and applications from security breaches. Many applications, from operating systems to web applications and mobile apps, may contain vulnerabilities that can be exploited for hacking or information theft. We perform rigorous security checks, code scans, and regular software updates to identify and fix these vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
How Do We Secure the Cloud Environment?
With the increasing shift to cloud services, cloud security has become critical. This layer deals with protecting data, applications, and infrastructures stored or operating in public, private, or hybrid cloud environments. This includes securing cloud configurations, identity and access management, encrypting data in the cloud, and protecting against threats specific to the cloud environment.
What is IoT Security and Why is it Relevant?
IoT (Internet of Things) security deals with protecting billions of devices connected to the internet – from smart security cameras to medical equipment and industrial systems. These devices, which often lack built-in security capabilities, can be an easy entry point for attackers. We work to secure these devices, monitor their activity, and protect them from attacks.
Cybersecurity focuses, therefore, on protecting against digital threats that are constantly changing and evolving, and requires an advanced and frequently updated technological approach.
So What are the Essential Differences and How Do the Fields Integrate?
The most significant difference between information security and cybersecurity lies in the scope of their reference. Information Security vs. Cybersecurity is a broad umbrella covering the protection of all types of information, regardless of format or storage location. It includes physical, human, operational, and technological aspects. In contrast, cybersecurity is a specific subset of information security, focusing solely on protecting digital information and assets from threats coming from cyberspace.
To illustrate this, consider the following example: a locked filing cabinet containing sensitive documents is an example of information security – physical protection of information. In contrast, a firewall protecting the company’s computer network is an example of both information security (because it protects information) and cybersecurity (because it deals with digital threats). That is, every cyber threat is a threat to information, but not every threat to information is a cyber threat.
How Do Information Security and Cybersecurity Complement Each Other?
The two fields are not opposed to each other; in fact, they complement and integrate deeply with each other. A holistic and effective security strategy requires both. Information security provides the broad framework, identifies the critical assets to be protected (whether digital or physical), defines organizational policies and procedures, and ensures the organization’s compliance with regulations. It also deals with the human aspect – the weakest link in the security chain – through cybersecurity awareness training, strong password policies, and more.
Cybersecurity, on the other hand, provides the specific technological tools and techniques to protect those critical assets in the digital space. It includes active protection against attacks, continuous monitoring of networks and systems, identification and response to security incidents, and implementation of advanced protection technologies.
How is This Integration Reflected in the Risk Management Process?
The risk management process clearly illustrates the integration between the fields:
- Asset and Threat Identification: Information security helps identify which information assets (digital and physical) are important to the organization and what threats (including cyber threats) exist to them.
- Risk Assessment: Information security assesses the level of risk of each threat, while cybersecurity specializes in assessing technical risks related to cyber threats.
- Risk Treatment: This is where both information security controls (such as backup policies, work procedures) and cybersecurity controls (such as firewalls, anti-virus systems) come into play.
- Implementation of Protective Measures: Implementing security solutions combines technological solutions of cybersecurity alongside procedures and policies of information security.
- Monitoring and Updating: Tracking the effectiveness of protective measures and adapting them to new threats requires close cooperation between experts in both fields.
Without a deep understanding of information security, cybersecurity may be overly focused on technology, ignoring other critical aspects. On the other hand, without cybersecurity capabilities, protecting digital information will remain only theoretical. The combination between them ensures a complete, multi-layered, and effective protection strategy.
Why is it Important to Understand the Differences and Integration Between the Fields?
Understanding the complex relationship between information security and cybersecurity is essential for any organization in the digital age. Relying solely on cybersecurity tools, without a strong information security policy (such as employee training or access controls), may leave you vulnerable. Conversely, having a policy without the technical tools of cybersecurity to implement it will be ineffective. An integrated approach ensures comprehensive protection of business continuity, trade secrets, customer privacy, and public trust, thereby preventing significant economic, legal, and reputational damage. Wise investment in both fields is the key to organizational resilience in a changing environment.
