Cyber security and network security are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. In fact, they have different goals, methods, and challenges. Knowing the key differences between them can help you protect your data, devices, and systems from various threats.
What is Cyber Security?
Cyber security is the practice of protecting information and systems from cyber attacks, such as malware, ransomware, phishing, denial-of-service, and data breaches. Cyber security covers all aspects of digital security, including software, hardware, cloud, mobile, web, and IoT. Cyber security aims to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and systems.
Some of the common cyber security techniques are:
- Encryption: This is the process of transforming data into an unreadable format that can only be accessed by authorized parties with a decryption key.
- Authentication: This is the process of verifying the identity of a user or device before granting access to a system or resource.
- Firewall: This is a software or hardware device that monitors and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined rules.
- Antivirus: This is a software program that detects and removes malicious software from a system or device.
- Backup: This is the process of creating and storing copies of data and systems in a separate location that can be restored in case of a disaster.
What is Network Security?
Network security is a subset of cyber security that focuses on protecting the network infrastructure and devices from unauthorized access, misuse, modification, or destruction. Network security covers the physical and logical aspects of the network, such as routers, switches, servers, firewalls, and cables. Network security aims to prevent intruders from entering or disrupting the network.
Some of the common network security techniques are:
- VPN: This is a virtual private network that creates a secure and encrypted connection between a device and a remote network over the internet.
- IDS: This is an intrusion detection system that monitors and analyzes network traffic for signs of malicious activity or policy violations.
- IPS: This is an intrusion prevention system that blocks or mitigates potential attacks detected by an IDS.
- NAC: This is a network access control that restricts the access of devices to the network based on their identity, role, location, and compliance status.
- WAF: This is a web application firewall that protects web applications from common attacks, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and brute force.
Cyber Security vs Network Security: Key Differences
Now that you know what cyber security and network security are, let’s look at some of the key differences between them:
- Scope: Cyber security is broader than network security, as it covers all types of digital security, while network security is more specific to the network layer.
- Threats: Cyber security faces more diverse and sophisticated threats than network security, as cyber attackers can exploit various vulnerabilities in software, hardware, cloud, mobile, web, and IoT. Network security mainly deals with threats that target the network infrastructure and devices.
- Skills: Cyber security requires more advanced and specialized skills than network security, as cyber security professionals need to keep up with the latest trends, technologies, and techniques in the cyber security domain. Network security professionals need to have a solid understanding of the network architecture, protocols, and devices.
- Tools: Cyber security and network security use different tools and technologies to achieve their goals. Cyber security tools include encryption, authentication, antivirus, backup, and more. Network security tools include VPN, IDS, IPS, NAC, WAF, and more.
READ MORE: What is Social Engineering?
Cyber Security vs Network Security: Why You Need Both
Cyber security and network security are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary. You need both to ensure the optimal protection of your data, devices, and systems. Cyber security and network security work together to create a layered defense that can prevent, detect, and respond to various threats.
Here are some of the benefits of having both cyber security and network security:
- Reduced risk: By having both cyber security and network security, you can reduce the risk of data loss, downtime, reputation damage, and legal liability.
- Enhanced performance: By having both cyber security and network security, you can enhance the performance of your systems and devices, as they will be free from malware, errors, and congestion.
- Improved compliance: By having both cyber security and network security, you can improve your compliance with various regulations and standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001.
- Increased trust: By having both cyber security and network security, you can increase the trust of your customers, partners, and stakeholders, as they will know that you take their data and privacy seriously.
Final Thoughts
Cyber security and network security are two important aspects of digital security that you need to understand and implement. They have different goals, methods, and challenges, but they also work together to provide a comprehensive protection for your data, devices, and systems. By having both cyber security and network security, you can enjoy the benefits of reduced risk, enhanced performance, improved compliance, and increased trust.