Cybersecurity and network security are growing in popularity in the tech world in the last few years. And since cyber threats and attacks are increasing daily, it’s only natural for businesses to get the help of professionals in these fields.
If you are considering security solutions in your IT systems, you need to clear the lines between cybersecurity and network security to implement the right strategy for your needs.
In this article, we'll establish the difference between cybersecurity and network security and why you need both in your IT security.
What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the term for the practice that protects you from malicious threats and cybercriminals. It is one of the many sections of information security that’s responsible for maintaining the integrity of networks, programs, and devices from cybercriminals.
You can use different security measures to help prevent these attacks, such as encryption technology, firewalls and antivirus software. It’s critical to stay updated on the latest threats and monitor traffic to adapt your defence strategies, reduce cyber risks, and prevent data loss and exploitations accordingly.
All these responsibilities would fall on the cybersecurity professionals. And only with the knowledge and tools can individuals and businesses take control of their digital security to protect their most valuable assets.
Reasons why you need cybersecurity
There are numerous reasons why cyber security is crucial to protecting your data and stopping malicious activities on the web.
First, cyber security helps protect confidential user information such as financial details, passwords and other sensitive data from being stolen by hackers or online criminals. And by using trusted internet safety tools such as firewalls, antivirus programs and VPNs, you can ensure your data remains safe from malicious attacks.
Furthermore, another reason for implementing robust cyber security measures is to guard against identity theft. Cybercriminals often use stolen identities for various fraudulent activities, including bank fraud and money laundering.
What is network security?
Network security is a subset of cybersecurity that protects networks, computers, and data from malicious attacks. Network security is what its name implies: to ensure that only authorised users can access confidential data in the network.
It falls to the network security professionals to protect the data shared through networks to prevent data tampering. And to do this, network security professionals will need to install, configure, maintain, and monitor all hardware and software assets to detect any security anomalies and threats in the network. This process encompasses everything from firewalls and antivirus programs to password policies. In essence, it’s any measure taken by a business that can help protect its networks and systems from unauthorised access.
Network security involves multiple layers of protection designed to prevent unauthorized access, malware attacks, identity theft, data loss and other malicious activities. The most common form of network security is a firewall which acts as the first line of defence by allowing or blocking traffic based on predetermined rules.
Other techniques, such as encryption algorithms, ensure secure communication between users and systems over networks. Additionally, network security professionals implement access control measures to limit who can gain access to sensitive information stored on servers or networks. Finally, regular software updates help keep networks secure by fixing known vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit.
Reasons why you need network security
Network security plays a critical role in your business IT security.
Whether at home, in the office, or on the go, network security is a must for us to remain safe and secure online.
But why do we need network security?
Network security will protect your data and information from malicious attacks or breaches. Without proper protection, hackers can access sensitive information such as passwords, bank details, credit card information, and more. Keeping your data secure with a firewall or antivirus software helps ensure that no one can get their hands on any of your info without authorised access.
Another great reason to have network security is to safeguard against phishing attempts. When you fall victim to a phishing attack (like many others throughout the years), you are susceptible to monetary losses and data leakage – mostly employee and customer information. To prevent this, establish a network security solution strong enough to fight off potential intruders.
Difference between cybersecurity and network security
Cybersecurity and network security are two different terms often used interchangeably, but there is a distinction between the two.
Although both share similar goals of securing confidential business data, they do it differently. For example, cybersecurity is the practice of protecting networks, systems, and data from malicious digital attacks or threats. And these threats can range from viruses, malware, ransomware and phishing attempts to more sophisticated attacks such as denial-of-service or man-in-the-middle attacks.
It’s the cybersecurity professional's role to help detect, respond, and recover from these threats. And a smart one will do penetration testing to locate any vulnerabilities in the IT systems before cybercriminals can.
Network security focuses on protecting an entire computer network from unauthorized access and preventing any interference with its operation. Network security professionals are responsible for creating various proactive measures to secure business networks, which include monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity and addressing any issues that may arise to ensure that only legitimate traffic gets permitted onto the system. Network security also safeguards the resources of a computer system by preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to sensitive information stored within it.
Summed up wisdom
Cybersecurity and network security have distinct differences.
While network security focuses on protecting the infrastructure of a network, cybersecurity, on the other hand, focuses on protecting data stored within the network.
Network security is technically easier to implement for businesses, but it does not protect against all cyber threats. And although cybersecurity is a more comprehensive approach to defending networks from cyber-attacks, it is also harder to implement.
If you’re looking to establish a cyber security solution that will transform your IT into a digital fortress, get in touch with us today, and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
