Despite frequently being misinterpreted as being the same, information security and cybersecurity are two distinct but interrelated concepts.

Information security is a mechanism for protecting data, systems, and networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. It's a vast area where you have to secure everything from digital information to physical property.

Cybersecurity is a specified area of information security that is mainly concerned with protecting computer systems and networks against cyber attacks. This, in turn, also protects the data, software, and hardware from cyber threats.

Key Differences

  • Scope: Information security is a hybrid with a wider range of safeguards, while cyber security only focuses on digital things.
  • Threats: Cybersecurity denotes cyber threats like hacking, malware, and phishing, information security also includes physical threats like theft and loss.
  • Controls: Cybersecurity tactics such as fire, antivirus, and intrusion detection systems, whereas information security also has physical security control like access control and surveillance.

In today's digital world, having information security and cybersecurity of all organizations is paramount. The corporation has to take a full-blown approach not only to the security of the sensitive data and systems but also to the protection of the data and systems.