What Is Information Security?

Information security is the practice of protecting information from unauthorized access, use, change, disclosure, or destruction.

The important thing is that information does not always have to be stored on a computer.

A company may have customer information in an online database. It may also have printed contracts, employee records, business plans, or documents kept in a filing cabinet.

All of that information needs Security.

For example, imagine a company keeps private customer records in a locked room. Only certain employees are allowed to enter that room. The company also has rules about who can view, copy, or share those records.

Information security can include:

• Controlling who can access information

• Protecting sensitive files

• Using passwords and access controls

• Encrypting important data

• Training employees

• Creating security rules

• Keeping backups

• Managing security risks

• Safely disposing of old information.

What Is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity has a stronger focus on the digital world.

It is about protecting computers, networks, servers, websites, applications, cloud systems, phones, and other digital systems from cyberattacks and other online threats.

For example, imagine an employee receives an email that appears to be from their manager. The email asks the employee to click a link and enter their company password.

The email is actually fake.

If the employee enters the password, an attacker may use it to access the company's system.

Stopping this type of attack is part of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity deals with threats such as:

• Hacking

• Phishing

• Malware

• Ransomware

• Password attacks

• Unauthorized access

• Data theft

• Attacks against websites and networks

• Weaknesses in software and systems

Cyber Security vs Information Security: What Is the Main Difference?

The easiest way to understand the difference is to ask:

What are we trying to protect?

Information security focuses on information and information systems.

Cybersecurity focuses more on digital systems, networks, devices, and cyber threats.

There is a lot of overlap. That is why the two terms are sometimes used almost as if they mean the same thing, but the focus is different.

A Simple Example That Makes the Difference Clear

Imagine a hospital has patient information.

Some records are stored in a computer system. Other records may still be printed on paper.

Now imagine two different problems.

A Paper Record Is Stolen

Someone enters a room and takes a folder containing private patient information.

There was no hacking. No computer was attacked.

But sensitive information was exposed.

This is clearly an information security problem.

Ransomware hits a Hospital Computer System.

Now imagine an attacker gets into the hospital's network and uses ransomware to lock important files.

Doctors and staff cannot access the records they need.

This is a cybersecurity problem because a digital system was attacked.

At the same time, it is also an information security problem because important information is no longer properly protected or available.

This example shows why the two fields often meet in real life.

Is Cyber Security Part of Information Security?

You will often hear that cybersecurity is part of information security.

That is a common way to explain the relationship. Information security has a wider focus on protecting information and information systems, while cyber security has a stronger focus on digital systems and cyber threats.

However, the terms are not used in the same way by every company, expert, or organization.

So, it is better not to get too caught up in the labels.

A useful way to remember the difference is:

Information security protects information. Cybersecurity focuses on protecting digital systems and dealing with cyber threats.

That simple idea is enough to understand the main difference.

Where Cybersecurity and Information Security Overlap

Access Control

A company needs to decide who can access its information and systems.

For example, an employee in the sales department may not need access to payroll records.

Limiting access helps protect both the information and the systems that store it.

Encryption

Encryption protects information by changing it into a form that unauthorized people cannot easily read.

It can be used to protect customer data, financial information, passwords, and other sensitive information.

Risk Management

Every company faces security risks.

A company needs to know what could go wrong, how likely it is to happen, and how much damage it could cause.

For example, losing an important customer database may create a much bigger problem than losing an old file that contains no useful information.

Understanding these risks helps a company decide where to spend its time and money.

Employee Training

People are an important part of security.

An employee might click a harmful link, use a weak password, or accidentally send private information to the wrong person.

Teaching employees how to recognize scams and handle information properly can prevent many problems.

Incident Response

Security problems can still occur even when a company has strong security measures in place.

When something goes wrong, the company needs to know what to do.

It may need to stop the attack, determine what happened, protect other systems, recover information, and prevent the same problem from recurring.

Both cybersecurity and information security can be involved in this process.

What Does Information Security Focus On?

Information security looks at the wider picture of protecting information.

A company may need to ask:

Who should have access to this information?

Where should it be stored?

How should employees use it?

How long should it be kept?

What should happen if it is lost?

How can unauthorized changes be prevented?

This means information security is not only about security software.

It also involves people, rules, processes, and technology.

For example, a company might have strong protection against hackers but still have a serious information security problem if employees can freely access sensitive files.

Good information security looks at the whole way information is handled.

What Does Cybersecurity Focus On?

Cybersecurity focuses on protecting digital systems from attacks and other online threats.

A cybersecurity team may work on:

• Network security

• Website security

• Application security

• Cloud security

• Device security

• Finding system weaknesses

• Watching for unusual activity

• Stopping malware

• Protecting user accounts

• Responding to cyberattacks

How Does the CIA Triad Fit Into Both?

If you study security for long enough, you will probably hear about the CIA Triad.

Here, "CIA" does not refer to the government agency.

It stands for:

• Confidentiality

• Integrity

• Availability

These three ideas help explain what good security should achieve.

Confidentiality

Only people who are allowed to see information should be able to see it.

For example, an employee's salary information should not be available to everyone in the company.

Integrity

Information should remain correct and should not be changed without permission.

For example, someone should not be able to change a customer's account balance secretly.

Availability

Authorized users should be able to access information and systems when they need them.

For example, a hospital needs its patient records to be available when doctors need them.

The CIA Triad is closely connected to information security and is also useful when thinking about cybersecurity.

How Do They Work Together in a Business?

In a real company, cybersecurity and information security usually cannot function as completely separate areas.

Imagine a company stores customer information in an online database.

The company may need to:

Decide who can access the database.

Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.

Encrypt sensitive information

Monitor the network

Train employees

Keep backups

Have a plan for dealing with attacks.

Some of these activities may be called information security work. Others may be called cybersecurity work.

But the company has one main goal:

Keep its information and systems safe.

That is why understanding both areas is useful.

Cybersecurity vs Information Security Careers

The two fields have different types of jobs, but there is a lot of overlap.

Cybersecurity jobs often have a stronger technical focus.

A cybersecurity professional may work with networks, security tools, system vulnerabilities, attacks, or suspicious activity.

Some common roles include:

Cybersecurity Analyst

Security Engineer

SOC Analyst

Penetration Tester

Cloud Security Engineer

Information security jobs can also be technical. But some roles focus more on security rules, risk, audits, company policies, and protecting information across the organization.

Examples include:

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Manager

Security Auditor

Risk and Compliance Specialist

Chief Information Security Officer

The exact job names and responsibilities can change from one company to another.

Which One Should You Learn?

There is no single answer for everyone.

If you enjoy working with computers, networks, security tools, system weaknesses, and cyberattacks, cybersecurity may be a good direction for you.

If you are more interested in risk, company rules, security policies, audits, and protecting information across an organization, information security may be a better fit.

But you do not have to choose only one.

The two areas are closely connected. Learning the basics of both can help you understand how security works as a whole.

If you are starting then learning basic security concepts first is a good way to see which area interests you most.

Questions About Cyber Security and Information Security

Are cyber security and information security the same?

No. They are closely related but their main focus is different. Information security focuses on protecting information and information systems, while cybersecurity focuses more on digital systems and cyber threats.

Which one is broader?

Information security is commonly described as the broader area because it focuses on protecting information and information systems. At the same time, cybersecurity is more focused on digital systems and cyber threats. Still, different organizations may use these terms differently.

Is cyber security part of information security?

It is commonly explained that way but the exact use of the terms can vary. The important point is that the two areas overlap heavily.

Does information security only protect digital information?

No. Information security can encompass information and information systems more broadly. This can include information that is not stored only in digital form.

Is cyber security more technical?

Often, yes. Many cybersecurity jobs involve networks, systems, software, security tools, and cyberattacks. Information security can also include technical work but some roles focus more on risk, rules, and company policies.

Can someone work in both fields?

Yes. The skills overlap and many security professionals work across both areas during their careers.

The Bottom Line

Cybersecurity and information security are closely related but they are not the same.

Information security is about protecting information and information systems. Cybersecurity focuses on protecting digital systems, networks, devices, and information from cyber threats.

Information security protects all data, whether it is on paper or on a computer. Cybersecurity is a part of information security that focuses specifically on digital data and on keeping it safe from hackers. Cybersecurity protects your tech, while information security protects your tech and your physical paperwork.