Information Security, Cybersecurity and Privacy Compliance, It’s all the Same, Right?

Our lives are lived in the digital realm. We use computers, cell phones and tablets connected to the internet to do everything from buying groceries to doing our banking to finding our next vehicle. Each time we conduct business we share information about ourselves knowingly and unknowingly. Understanding how that information transaction takes place and where responsibilities for securing data and the systems that transmit data exist can be very difficult.

There are three areas that are often discussed and often confused. Information Security is the process of safeguarding data integrity, availability, and confidentiality.  Cybersecurity addresses the threats that exist in the digital realm and includes network security, threat detection and incident response. Privacy Compliance deals with the legal responsibilities for the ethical and transparent handling of personal data. Let’s explore each area in a little more detail.

Information Security

Businesses of all types regularly collect information from customers for various purposes. Personally Identifiable Information (PII) consists of items that can readily or collaboratively be tied to a specific individual. Social Security numbers, state and federal ID numbers, bank account numbers, physical addresses are all examples of personally identifiable information. Criminals value this information, using it for fraudulent purchases, securing loans, accessing secure databases, and various other activities. There is both an ethical and legal requirement for entities that collect this information to secure it. The methods and processes used to properly protect data collected falls under the category of Information Security.

Cybersecurity

We discussed the data collected and shared over digital networks in the previous section. The hardware, firmware and applications that make the digital transmission of data possible are vulnerable to exploitation. The process of identifying and mitigating threats and vulnerabilities to the network and its components defines cybersecurity. Cybersecurity includes ensuring secure data transmission and storage, identifying and reducing threats, and implementing response methods to mitigate damage from system compromises. Firewalls, anti-malware, traffic monitoring, penetration testing, and network segregation are all examples of cybersecurity measures.

Privacy Compliance

Individuals own the data collected and shared, with recognized rights regarding their personal data. Many jurisdictions allow individuals to control its usage and sharing. The first major privacy regulation originated in the European Union. GDPR imposed a big responsibility on businesses: giving consumers easy control over data usage, storage, and sharing. Since GDPR’s implementation, many US states enacted laws mirroring its personal control provisions, reflecting a growing trend in privacy regulation. Privacy compliance mandates businesses to showcase policies, empower user control, and often erase collected personal data from all storage areas.

Understanding the convergence of encryption, access control, and employee actions is crucial for businesses to protect sensitive data and respect individual rights. While it’s tempting to tighten security by severely restricting access, it’s unrealistic for business operations. Balancing security and usability is an ongoing goal. Regular training maintains awareness of best practices and evolving threats. Leaders recognize threats, value each team member’s role, and uphold high standards in privacy and security compliance.

Understanding each pillar in our connected world offers organizations a holistic approach to safeguarding personal and confidential data. Governments are increasingly more concerned with regulatory efforts to force best practices. Top businesses honor the trust of clients and employees by prioritizing the protection of their private data. Every person in the organization must know their role to create a secure environment, safeguarding data and mitigating threats.