If you’re looking for an in-demand career with tons of perks, you may enter either cybersecurity or information technology (IT) security. They are both crucial parts of any company’s data security plans. Most people interchange these terms.
However, there are key differences between the two and what they involve. This article answers the confusing question, “cybersecurity or information technology security?”
IT security is the practice of protecting data and information systems from unauthorized access. This practice aims to maintain the “C.I.A.” of sensitive company information. C.I.A. means confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Meanwhile, cybersecurity refers to protecting data on the Internet. That is particularly from hackers and other cybercriminals. Hence, you can think of cybersecurity as a subset of IT security. Moreover, you need to develop strong risk management plans. That is for both IT and cybersecurity.
Understanding IT Security
As mentioned, IT security is the practice of designing and implementing security measures. That is regardless of the data’s form. The data includes both digital and analog forms. Every business must develop systems and processes to keep information safe.
For instance, your company may collect, process, and store customer personal and financial details. You will need a data security framework. That is to ensure that such details are safe from unauthorized access. The framework must include how your company handles the information.
Thus, IT security has a broad scope. This protection is not limited to the Internet. It also covers in-house systems that don’t include the cybersecurity space. Hence, you may think of IT security as the first step of preventing your information from ending up in the wrong hands.
What Is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity has a limited scope as it protects company data from Internet-related threats. However, this is also crucial as more businesses rely on cloud computing, networks, and servers. While such technologies yield tons of benefits, they also expose large amounts of data to Internet hackers. Cybersecurity ensures that your data is safe from such risks.
Moreover, cybersecurity involves multiple aspects of your company’s daily operations. For instance, every email your employees send or receive may expose your data systems to outside threats. Cybersecurity practices ensure that hackers won’t access your data. Some of those practices are password management, data encryption, and security policies.
The Similarities
There are ample job opportunities waiting for you. That is whether you choose to pursue a cybersecurity or information security degree. The number of qualified workers has not grown enough to keep up with the demand.
Moreover, experience is a key factor in salary determination regardless of your degree. Hence, it is crucial to stay updated with the latest trends in the industry. Furthermore, consider earning industry-standard skill certificates through companies like CompTIA and CISCO.
A great thing about both careers is you can work in any industry. Every company needs some sort of protection, especially healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. Yet, one of the leading employers is the federal government. This industry is always seeking qualified staff to fill mission-critical roles. Some examples are software assurance, incident response, and more.
Since the demand is high for both careers, you can also expect rewarding and well-paying job opportunities.
