Cybersecurity vs. Network Security – What’s the Difference?

Network security focuses on data in motion – data traversing a network. Cybersecurity, by contrast, protects stored data – data at rest.

Companies across all industries are drowning in jargon meant to help them secure their data. Information security, network security, cybersecurity: Using different terms for similar security measures has become a problem – because it hampers the development of an effective corporate security strategy.

The distinction between network security and cybersecurity is especially confusing – and often unclear. Here’s how they differ:

Cybersecurity – Securing Stored Data

In practice, cybersecurity covers the protection of data storage, data processing, and data transport. It therefore encompasses security across an organization’s entire interconnected data center – i.e., the full computing environment: from the information user, to the information itself, and every component in between.

That “user” need not be human. Machine-to-machine communication, interactions among IT systems, and IoT device traffic also fall under cybersecurity.

Technically speaking, cybersecurity addresses both data at rest and data in motion. Yet when an IT expert refers to cybersecurity, they typically mean securing static, stored data.

Network Security – Securing Data in Motion

Technically, network security is a subset of cybersecurity – but network security focuses primarily on data in motion: protecting data at the network edge, securing data transport via switches and routers, and safeguarding data as it moves between computing nodes.

Network Security vs. Cybersecurity

The two domains differ most significantly in planning. A network security concept can usually stand alone; a cybersecurity plan, however, remains incomplete without an underlying network security concept.

No matter how you meet your security requirements – you must cover even the lowest layer of your IT environment.

At every layer, the right tools and procedures must be deployed to close data gaps and protect access to sensitive information. A company’s survival may hinge on its security framework.

 

Key Facts

Attack dwell time: On average, attackers remain undetected inside corporate networks for 204 days.

SMEs in the crosshairs: 43 percent of all cyberattacks target small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Frequently Asked Questions

Every question is locked. A tap unlocks the answer.

What’s the difference between data protection and data security?

Data protection governs the lawful handling of personal data (legal basis, purpose limitation, data subject rights). Data security comprises the technical and organizational measures designed to protect all data against loss, manipulation, or unauthorized access.

Does every company need a Data Protection Officer (DPO)?

Under German law, appointing a DPO is mandatory if at least 20 people regularly process personal data using automated systems – or if special categories of personal data (e.g., health data) are processed.

What rights do data subjects have under the GDPR?

The right of access, the right to rectification, the right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”), the right to restriction of processing, the right to data portability, and the right to object. Companies must respond to such requests within one month.

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TL;DR

• Companies across all industries are drowning in jargon intended to help them secure their data.
• Information security, network security, cybersecurity: Using different terms for similar security measures has become a problem – because it hampers the development of an effective security…
• Cybersecurity, by contrast, protects stored data – data at rest.
• The distinction between network security and cybersecurity causes particular confusion and ambiguity.