Cybersecurity vs Network Security: A Comprehensive Comparison

The difference between Network Security and Cybersecurity is mostly in the scope of their responsibilities. It's pretty much just what it sounds like. Network Security is just concerned with just the network, while Cybersecurity is concerned with servers, applications, and policies. Network Security is one aspect of Cybersecurity, and Cybersecurity is one aspect of Information Security.

It may sound like Network Security is a much simpler job but so many of the security protocols happen at the network level that it requires a very specialized skill set in larger organizations.

The demand for security professionals is growing faster every year. We are becoming more dependent on increasingly complex technological systems. This complexity makes for more vulnerabilities. Because of this, jobs in Information Security will be in high demand for the foreseeable future.

What Is Network Security

Network Security handles security on the network devices. Routers, switches, and even the cables between the routers and switches.

Network Security happens at a few specific instances:

1. Access Control - Security measures that allow access only to specific users and services.
2. Firewalls - Limits not only who has access to get onto the network, but what they have access to once they are inside.
3. VPNs - Creating secure tunnels between different sites and for remote users to connect to the network.
4. Intrusion Detection and Intrusion Prevention - Also known as 'threat intelligence" is advanced traffic analysis to create baselines for what normal traffic looks like, and then detects or prevents anything that is "unusual".

What Is Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity deals with all cyber threats. Not just threat actors trying to get into the network, but also protects systems inside the network in case an attacker gets in. Having multiple layers of defense is a key security concept known as "defense in depth". In case one system fails, there is another system already in place to protect sensitive data and critical systems.

Cybersecurity happens at many locations inside an organization:

1. Application Security - Protects applications that the organization is serving to its customers. Prevent threats and fix vulnerabilities.
2. Information Security - Protects an organization's data, at rest or in motion.
3. Network Security - Protecting the infrastructure that the data flows on. Mainly routers and switches, and these can be virtual routers and switches.
4. Operational Security (OPSEC) - OPSEC identifies and protects sensitive and critical information and procedures in any area of an organization. This includes educating all members of an organization as to their role in helping secure their organization's data.
5. Endpoint Security - Protection measures taken on individual devices to secure just that device from intrusion, malware, or ransomware. Devices like PCs, servers, and data storage devices.
6. Disaster Recovery - Having procedures in place to restore systems in a worst-case scenario.

The role cybersecurity professionals play in protecting digital assets:

1. Asses the impertinence and risk of the company's digital assets.
2. Implements security measures based on the assessment in the previous step.
3. Monitor and respond to security threats and incidents.
4. Ensure compliance with government regulations for their specific industry.

While Network Security deals with just data in motion, Cybersecurity also deals with data at rest (on servers and in databases).

Pros And Cons Of Network Security

Pros

• Somewhat easier to get into.
• More specialized skills.

Pros And Cons Of Cybersecurity

Pros

• Higher pay on average.
• More job opportunities in Cybersecurity.
• More generalized skills.
• Pen-testing and red-team / blue-team is a lot of fun.

Cons

• Work can be less interesting. You may need to spend time working on the compliance/ legal side of things. Rules, regulations, and paperwork = boring.

How Are Cyber and Network Security Are Different

Cyber Security protects the assets inside of the company, while Network Security tries to prevent unauthorized access from ever getting onto the network in the first place.

• Network Security focuses on protecting the network infrastructure.
• Network Security typically is responsible for protecting against DDOS attacks (Distributed Denial of Service). - Someone flooding the network with too much traffic in an attempt to disable the network and the services it provides.
• Cybersecurity focuses on securing network infrastructure, software, and sensitive information.
• Cybersecurity uses end-point software to detect malicious software, viruses, and security threats on computers, servers, and storage arrays.
• Cybersecurity is more versed on the legal side. Making sure a company is handling its data in a way that is compliant with laws regulating that industry.
• According to Salary.com the average wage for Engineer positions are:
  • Network Security Engineer = $94,000
  • Cyber Security Engineer = $146,000

Education Requirements

Although you do not need a college degree to get into either of these fields, it is tough to do so without one. The path to getting a job in either field without a computer science degree is:

• Become skilled in the field - Take some cybersecurity courses and practice at home. Do some ethical hacking!
• Get experience - Start working in the Information Technology field sooner rather than later.
• Get key certifications - CISSP, CEH, CCNA, CCNP, CompTIA Sec+,

Network Security will probably be easier to get into because all you would need is a few years of experience as a Network Admin and perhaps one advanced network security certification and you should then be able to get into Network Security. You can get a network admin job without a degree with just a few years of hard work. Read my article How To Become A Network Admin.

The same goes for Cybersecurity although more employers require a degree for these positions. The reason is that many companies are legally required to staff people with specific education levels. Sometimes these requirements are for advanced degrees, and sometimes they are for advanced certifications.

Should You Go Into Cybersecurity Or Network Security

There are more jobs in the Cybersecurity field and on average they do pay better. Take that with a grain of salt though as job titles in the IT field are often misleading so it's hard to really determine what the average salary is for someone when it's hard to know what they really do for a living.

If you have highly specialized knowledge you will be very valuable to a few companies and if you have more generalized knowledge you will be less valuable, but to more companies.

In either field there are very high-paying jobs for people who are highly skilled as highly skilled security professionals are hard to find. Because there are very high paying jobs in both fields you should do which one is most interesting to you. The more interesting you find the work, the faster you will excel. For example, you will make more money if you are great at Network Security than if you are OK at Cybersecurity.

Keep in mind that Network Security is typically much more specialized, so if you like to go deep into one subject rather than have a broad knowledge across a larger field then Network Security might make more sense for you. That is a general statement because there are plenty of large companies that fragment their Cybersecurity team into divisions. For example, there may be specific roles for pen-tester, red-team / blue-team, end-point security, and compliance. So if there is a more specific interest that you have in Cybersecurity, then there are jobs for people with just those specific skills.

Conclusion

These fields are closely related and transitioning a career from one to the other is common.

Both Cyber and Network Security are great fields to work in. The work is very interesting and engaging. These fields are some of the most valuable positions in information technology.

If you are someone who likes to learn a broader scope of skills and see more of the "big picture" Cybersecurity may be your route. But if you prefer to be more of an "expert" in just one discipline then Network Security may be your path.

In summary, while network security and cybersecurity share many commonalities, they are distinct areas of expertise with different objectives and requirements.