Both cybersecurity and information assurance is vital to any organization. You can’t have one without the other. But, what does each of these terms mean? Read this post to know the key differences between the two.
What Is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity means the protection of networks and devices. As well as programs and data. So, it ensures to protect these things from damage, attack, and unauthorized access.
Thus, ensuring that sensitive information is safe. Also, it even protects users against money extortion. As well as from the interruption of normal business processes.
Why Is It Important?
Data breaches occur often that some may even make headlines. And the common victims are businesses, government agencies, and universities. As well as financial institutions, and many more.
Moreover, cybersecurity evolves as organizations keep pace with online enemies.
What Does Information Assurance Mean?
“Information Assurance” refers to the protection of information systems. And that’s both for physical and digital ones.
Over the years, Information Assurance means keeping physical files and documents. Safe and secured in a locked vault. But today, information assurance adopts digital space.
So, organizations now develop strategies for keeping their sensitive information. And they do that in electronic formats.
Five Anchors Of Information Assurance
There are 5 anchors of Information Assurance. These are:
- Non-Contradicting, and the
Difference Between Cybersecurity And Information Assurance
Information Assurance and Cybersecurity are both important. They have common purposes. But these two also have differences in their functions.
Information Assurance
Functions
IA focuses on strategy and protection of all information. And that’s both for the digital and physical systems.
Aside from that, information assurance protects the organizations’ information systems and assets. And this is also both for physical and digital.
Tools And Strategies
Its tools and strategies include everything. Such as from user education to high-tech systems. As well as firewalls and anti-virus technology to locked file cabinets paper shredders.
Where Threats Come From
Also, the threat emanates from cyberspace. As well as unauthorized personnel accessing protected information on-premises.
Cybersecurity
Functions
Cybersecurity keeps pace with fast-changing technology, tactics, and threats. Unlike information assurance, it focuses on protecting digital information and managing risk.
Not only cybersecurity protects information and data but it also protects functional systems. Such are electrical grid and transportation infrastructure. As well as any devices connected to the Internet of Things.
Tools And Strategies
Its tools and strategies include everything from user education, high-tech systems, and firewalls. As well as anti-virus technology to penetration testing and bug bounty initiatives.
Where Threats Come From
Like information assurance, the threat emanates from cyberspace. As well as computer-to-computer communications.
Can There Be Cybersecurity Without Information Assurance?
The answer is no. As mentioned earlier, you can’t have one without the other. Why so?
A good information risk management process is part of an information assurance strategy. And it will be assessing the cyber threat as another threat group.
The risk mitigation will then introduce appropriate controls to manage those risks.
Conclusion
So we can say that the field of information and cybersecurity are both essential. Especially to the secure operation of government and business systems throughout the world.
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