Information Security vs IT Security vs Cyber Security

Information security, IT security, and cyber security are all related terms that refer to the protection of digital assets against unauthorized access, theft, or damage. While there is some overlap between these terms, they have different emphases and scopes.

Information security is a broad term that encompasses all measures taken to protect sensitive data, such as personal information, financial data, and intellectual property. It involves securing data in all its forms, including physical storage devices, electronic storage, and transfer.

IT security, on the other hand, focuses on securing the technology infrastructure of an organization, such as networks, servers, and devices, and ensuring that they operate reliably, securely, and efficiently. IT security also involves the implementation and management of security measures that can protect the infrastructure from unauthorized access, cyber attacks, and other threats.

Cybersecurity is a subset of IT security that deals specifically with protecting digital assets against cyber threats, such as malware, phishing, hacking, and other types of cyber attacks. Cybersecurity involves a range of technologies, practices, and policies that aim to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats.

While information security, IT security, and cyber security have some overlap, they also have distinct areas of focus and implementation.

Overlapping areas:

• Risk management: All three disciplines are concerned with identifying, assessing, and managing risks to the organization's digital assets and information.
• Access control: Controlling access to information and systems is a critical component of all three disciplines. Access controls ensure that only authorized individuals can access data and resources.
• Incident response: All three areas involve creating plans and procedures for responding to security incidents, such as data breaches, cyber attacks, and system failures.

Non-overlapping areas:

• Information security: This area has a broader focus and covers the protection of information in all forms, including physical documents, intellectual property, and sensitive data. Information security is not limited to technology-related risks and includes physical security, policy management, and regulatory compliance.
• IT security: This area is focused on protecting the technology infrastructure of the organization, such as servers, networks, and devices. IT security is concerned with maintaining the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of the technology infrastructure.
• Cybersecurity: This area is specifically focused on protecting against cyber threats, such as malware, hacking, and phishing. Cybersecurity involves a range of technologies, practices, and policies that aim to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats.

In summary, information security is a broad term that covers all measures taken to protect sensitive data, while IT security and cyber security are subsets of information security that focus on protecting the technology infrastructure and digital assets of an organization against various types of threats.