Cybersecurity vs. Information Security: What’s the Difference?

An ever-increasing amount of information being generated and stored online is fueling a rise in cybercrime and data theft. Recent reports from law enforcement and the technology industry reveal some alarming statistics:

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 880,418 complaints in 2023, a new record and a 10 percent increase from 2022. Potential losses stemming from those complaints exceeded $12.5 billion, 22 percent higher than in 2022.
Roughly 46 percent of cyberattacks worldwide target Americans, making the U.S. the most highly targeted country in the world, according to CompTIA.
The global average cost of a data breach was nearly $4.5 million in 2023, an increase of 15 percent over three years, according to IBM.

Because of the rise in cybercrime, organizations are investing heavily in information security, which has become synonymous with cybersecurity. However, while there’s notable overlap between cybersecurity and information security — both in theory and in practice — they refer to distinct concepts. Aspiring data security professionals need to understand the differences between them.

What Is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity safeguards computer systems, networks and programs and their sensitive data from damage, theft or unauthorized use. It also includes efforts to restore stolen or compromised data and hardware.

Organizations and individuals employ various cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and electronic assets from cyber threats. Common examples of cybersecurity include the following:

Data encryption
Virtual private networks (VPNs)
Password protection
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Antivirus software

These tools and others are used to guard against various cyber threats, such as phishing, ransomware, malware and social engineering.

What Is Information Security?

The concept of information security is slightly broader than that of cybersecurity. Information security refers to efforts to protect sensitive data and the systems, equipment and devices that contain that data. This includes both digital data (information stored in a cloud network) and physical data in any and all formats.

In addition to electronic data, information security entails the safeguarding of paper documents and the physical assets that store those documents, such as a records room or a filing cabinet. In this case, information security may entail restricting access to sensitive files by locking them in a room, granting permission only to certain employees with keys or access codes.

Information security also refers to protecting digital records that are stored on physical devices, such as servers, laptops and USB drives.

Other measures that fall under the umbrella of information security include having employees sign confidentiality agreements to protect proprietary information and the use of security guards on premises where sensitive data is stored.

Cybersecurity vs. Information Security: Understanding the Distinctions

Although cybersecurity and information security overlap quite a bit, understanding their differences is crucial. Delineating between them enables organizations to set clear policies for protecting sensitive data — whether digital or physical — and to effectively manage risk. Exploring the distinctions between these concepts can also help aspiring security professionals determine their preferred careers and areas of specialization.

Focus

Information security comprises efforts to protect sensitive data in both digital and nondigital formats, as well as the systems and physical assets that contain that data. This includes everything from files stored in a locked room to private user information stored in the cloud.

Cybersecurity is a form of information security focused exclusively on electronic data and technology. This encompasses computer systems, networks and programs, as well as online activity and computer hardware.

Essentially, cybersecurity is a subfield of information security, and information security is part of the definition of cybersecurity.

The reason these terms are often used interchangeably is that, as the world becomes increasingly digitized, more and more information is stored in computer systems. Whereas in the past, when the majority of a business’s sensitive information may have been kept in a filing cabinet, now it’s stored in the cloud or other areas that are vulnerable to a cyberattack.

Methods

Cybersecurity and information security may also differ somewhat in the methods they employ to protect data. For example, cybersecurity measures include the use of encryption software to prevent unauthorized access to digital data and firewalls to shield online activity from cyberattacks. Information security measures include having employees sign confidentiality agreements and restricting access to sensitive records.

Careers

Since information security and cybersecurity have become synonymous, most of today’s information security jobs are in cybersecurity. Because information security is paramount in business, demand for these professionals is high.

According to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the fastest-growing information security occupations include the following:

Information Security Analysts: These professionals develop security measures to safeguard an organization’s computer systems and networks. They establish security standards and policies and monitor networks for vulnerabilities and potential breaches.
- Median Annual Salary: $120,360 (as of May 2023)
- Employment Outlook: 32 percent growth projected (2022-2032)
Database Architects: These professionals design and build systems for storing all sorts of data, including financial information and private health records. They also ensure that data is secure and monitor for errors and inefficiencies.
- Median Annual Salary: $134,700 (as of May 2023)
- Employment Outlook: 10 percent growth projected (2022-2032)
Computer Systems Analysts: These IT professionals analyze an organization’s computer systems and processes and develop measures to make them more efficient.
- Median Annual Salary: $103,800 (as of May 2023)
- Employment Outlook: 10 percent growth projected (2022-2032)

Safeguard Sensitive Data as an Information Security Expert

With more data than ever before being generated and stored online, demand for information security professionals is at an all-time high. If you’re looking to embark on a career in information security or take your existing career to the next level, consider Augusta University Online’s Master of Science (MS) in Information Security Management.

In addition to helping you develop cutting-edge cybersecurity skills, the managerial concentration within our MS in Information Security Management program enables you to tailor your academic journey around advancing to a leadership role. With a curriculum that explores subjects such as security policy deployment and the human factors involved in information security, our program will help you graduate with a well-rounded skill set that sets you up for career success now and in the future.

Discover how AU Online’s MS in Information Security Management program can help you become a leader in cyber defense.

Sources:
Britannica, Computer Security
Cisco, What Is Cybersecurity?
CompTIA, “Top 50 Cybersecurity Statistics, Figures and Facts”
CompTIA, “What Is the Difference Between IT Security and Cybersecurity?”
IBM, Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023
Indeed, Information Security vs. Cybersecurity: What Are the Differences?
Internet Crime Complaint Center, Federal Bureau of Investigations Internet Crime Report 2023
IT Governance, “Information Security vs Cyber Security: The Difference”
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Cybersecurity
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Information Security
UpGuard, “Cybersecurity vs. Information Security: What’s the Difference?”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer Systems Analysts
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Database Administrators and Architects
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Information Security Analysts