How is Cyber Security Different from Information Security?

There is a constant stream of news these days about cyber security and information security. Stories of massive data breaches top the headlines. Guides for keeping your devices safe from hackers are everywhere. For someone who is interested in a future in cyber security, or who has a vested interest in keeping their data as safe as possible, it's easy to come away from the sheer volume of stories about cyber and information security assuming that they are the same thing.

However, there are some crucial differences between cyber security and information security. These differences are important to understand for anyone, but they are especially important for those interested in joining this field. With that in mind, here are the differences between cyber security and information security.

What is information security?

Information security is the protection of both digital and physical information. Protecting information takes many forms. An information security specialist needs to be able to protect information from unauthorized access, theft, and distribution. They need to ensure that information cannot be tampered with or compromised. They also need to protect information from both deliberate and accidental destruction.

Information security involves the protection of all information, which means that an information security specialist will need to know how to keep everything from paper files to cloud data safe. While an understanding of cyber security can be hugely helpful for an information security specialist, it's possible to make your way in information security without a complete cyber security education.

What is cyber security?

Cyber security is the protection of electronic devices and data, especially from attacks over the internet. Protecting information is a significant aspect of cyber security, especially because information and data are so frequently targeted by cyber criminals. However, there is much more to a cyber security specialist's job than protecting information.

Cyber criminals do much more than just steal information. Ransomware attacks (when a criminal locks down a computer and demands payment to unlock it) are growing increasingly sophisticated. Some hackers cause massive internet shutdowns just because they can. As important as it is to protect information, it is just one part of a cyber security specialist's duties.

What is the overlap between the two fields? Should I learn both?

Although information security and cyber security are quite different, there is plenty of crossover between the two. Keeping information secure is a major aspect of cyber security, and so much information is held on computers and servers today that an information security specialist might work exclusively with digital information. There are also practical aspects to doing both jobs well. In both cyber and information security, a good strategy might involve educating your client's employees on basic security methods. Whether you work in cyber security or information security, you can benefit from a well-rounded education.

Can a degree in cyber security help me in either field?

Absolutely. If you want to get into cyber security, getting a formal education is the best way. In addition to giving you a well-rounded understanding of every aspect of cyber security, a good bachelor's degree program will also give you the training you need to pass the third-party certification exams that will put you at the top of prospective employers' lists.

If you are interested in information security, a cyber security education can be a huge boost as well. As companies store more and more information on the cloud, it is essential to have information security experts who know how to protect data.

Are you interested in cyber security or information security? We don't blame you! This field is fascinating and changing daily! 

Are you interested in helping to keep information safe? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security, ECPI University offers this program at an accelerated rate. For more information regarding this exciting degree course, connect with a knowledgeable admissions counselor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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