Difference Between Cybersecurity and Network Security

The cybersecurity and network security can be considered as the two sides of a coin. However, some experts believe that network security is a subpart or subdomain of the cyber-security. They mainly differ in the way that network security is implemented to protect internal information through inspecting employee activities and network access. In contrast, cybersecurity concentrates on external threats such as security breaches created by hackers attempting to infiltrate the network.

The properties like access, confidentiality, authentication, integrity and non-repudiation are used for ensuring the information, cyber and network security. However, we can conclude that network security would involve the networks but cybersecurity includes a network of networks internetwork.

Content: Cybersecurity Vs Network Security

1. 1. Comparison Chart
   2. Definition
   3. Key Differences
   4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for comparison	Cyber-security	Network Security
Basic	A protection mechanism for the data residing in the devices and servers.	Serves as the facility to protect the data flowing over the network.
Subset of	Information security	Cyber-security
Types of attacks include	Phishing, pretexting, baiting.	Viruses, worms, trojans, DOS attacks, hacker attacks, etcetera.
Includes	Network protection, applications, up-to-date information.	Account credentials, internet access, firewalls, encryption.

Definition of Cybersecurity

Before understanding what is cybersecurity what type of threats and vulnerabilities are included in it, we must understand what is cyberspace. Cyberspace describes a combination of all kinds of communication networks, databases, embedded processors, internet and controllers for interchanging electronic documents. A worldwide network environment is generated through telephone wires, coaxial cables, electromagnetic waves and fibre-optic lines. Although the term cyberspace and internet could be used interchangeably it is a part of cyberspace. In simple words, cyberspace is a linked internet environment.

Now, cyber-security is the process of protecting the cyberspace from attack, misuse, damage, and economic spying. Cyberspace can be hampered by inherent vulnerabilities that cannot be removed sometimes.

Definition of Network Security

Network security is a part of cybersecurity where the network access to several hosts and their services is controlled rather than concentrating on the individual host security. Network security solutions involve three categories: hardware, software, and human. It focuses on gaining control over data transfer which means what data is arriving through the network and going out of our network. The other functions performed in order to protect the network and controlling the physical access are – avoiding accidental compromise of data, detection and prevention of unauthorized external intrusions and preventing intentional internal security breaches.

Now how it is done? The internal protection is enabled by cautiously monitoring the passwords, firewalls, encryption, internet access, backups etcetera. For securing the network, one needs to implement monitoring softwares to detect threats and protecting it.

Conclusion

The terms cybersecurity and network security can be distinguished by the fact that cybersecurity deals with the protection of the data resting at some state. As against, network security is nothing but securing the data travelling across the network by terminals.