When considering modern defenses to physical and digital threats, it can often be easy to use the terms Infosec vs cybersecurity in an interchangeable manner. An understandable conclusion to draw as they are closely related, with both offering crucial protection strategies in the modern landscape. However, it is important to understand that they are not precisely the same. Gaining knowledge of the distinctions between the two is an essential element of effective risk management, and through the likes of Osavul’s InfoOps, organizations can create a much more resilient security infrastructure with better resource allocation.
So, what is Infosec? An abbreviation of ‘information security’, Infosec refers to the practice of protecting all forms of information systems, ranging from printed documents to digital files to physical records to spoken conversations and more. The core concern is keeping sensitive information safe from unauthorized access, manipulation, alteration, or total destruction.
Rather than simply focusing on technology, Infosec is instead built around policy, procedure, and control. It effectively lays the groundwork for how data within a system can be accessed, how it can be viewed, how it can be edited, and under what circumstances all of the mentioned can take place.
Some of the key techniques of Infosec include:
• Identity controls and data access management.
• Encryption of both physical and digital data.
• An information classification system based on the level of sensitivity.
• Frameworks that comply with current industry standards.
• Physical security measures regarding things like office access and file storage.
Put simply, Infosec refers to securing any type of information, covering all mediums from paper to digital. It also includes the human behavior aspect of how individuals are interacting with the protected data in question. It promotes strong employee training and clear protocols in order to achieve optimum information security.
The key distinction is that while Infosec concentrates on what the information might be, cybersecurity focuses on the ‘where’ and ‘how’ side of the equation, the infrastructure and systems that store and manage the data. Think of it as the shield that helps to protect software, servers, devices, and networks from various cyber threats like ransomware, phishing, and malware.
Cybersecurity tackles the technical elements of digital defense. The core goals are to detect, block, and respond to any detected vulnerabilities and intrusions within a digital environment.
The most typical cybersecurity elements include:
• Firewalls and IDS (intrusion detection systems).
• Network monitoring across platforms.
• Endpoint protection for vulnerable devices such as smartphones and laptops.
• Patch management and application development.
• Digital forensics and incident response.
Where Infosec can tell you who accesses and why, cybersecurity works to ensure that no malicious external attackers can breach the system and compromise it. Something to note is that by its very nature, cybersecurity is both preventative and reactive. The tools incorporated need to be able to adapt constantly to ever-evolving cyber threats.
It becomes easier to understand the relationship between Infosec vs cybersecurity when they are viewed as two different layers of the same final goal, that goal being to protect an organization’s most valuable assets.
• Infosec establishes policies and rules for handling sensitive information.
• Cybersecurity then implements the digital defense protocols to safeguard and enforce those rules.
This relationship is a symbiotic one, not a case of cybersecurity vs Infosec, but rather a partnership.
The areas in which the two do overlap include:
• Securing cloud environments.
• Monitoring access logs and data transfer.
• Complying with the likes of GDPR regulations.
• Safeguarding digital identities and credentials.
• Training employees to notice and avoid engineering attacks.
When perfectly aligned, all of these functions come together to form the most comprehensive approach possible in terms of protecting data across systems.
In this regard, tools like the InfoOps platform offered by Osavul are designed to provide context and clarity in all Infosec vs cyber security matters. It helps in connecting the dots between digital narratives and the real-world impact that the information can have. In essence, Osavul can help organizations to get a better handle on information security.
Going beyond simple firewalls and access policies, Osavul can strengthen Infosec efforts through the following:
• Scanning digital environments for unauthorized access and potential data leaks.
• Flagging any suspicious narrative threats and attempts to alter public perception using brand data.
• Integrating information systems content to be able to better assess the origin of attack and the intent of exposure.
• Doing so whilst remaining compliant with changing industry standards.
This kind of ‘intelligence first’ approach not only results in data being protected, but also in a greater understanding of how the data can be used against you. From this perspective, Osavul becomes an integral element of any modern risk management strategy.
Ultimately, the question of Infosec vs Cybersecurity is more than a question of semantics. They may share levels of overlap for some purposes, but the key thing to remember is that the approaches to protection come from different angles.
Don’t let the interchangeable terms of cybersec vs infosec, infosec vs cybersec, or infosec vs cybersecurity confuse the situation. At the crux of the matter, infosec governs data, whilst cybersec shields technology. Establishing one without the other can lead to vulnerable blind spots for any organization.
With the help of platforms like Osavul, the bridge between contextual and technical intelligence can be effortlessly gapped, allowing for information systems to be much more resilient in the face of potential attacks.
