Cybersecurity vs. Information Technology: What’s the Difference?

Written by: East Carolina University® • Sep 11, 2024

Two cybersecurity professionals at work in a server room.

Cybersecurity vs. Information Technology: What’s the Difference?

Cybercrime is becoming an increasingly alarming threat. In 2023, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received a record 880,418 complaints, with potential financial losses surpassing $12.5 billion. These numbers, which the FBI calls a conservative estimate, represented a nearly 10% rise in complaints and a 22% rise in losses over 2022.

These numbers reinforce the need for businesses to implement security strategies that can proactively thwart cyberattacks and mitigate damages stemming from data breaches. Businesses must also have a strong digital infrastructure to keep systems secure and essential data safe.

Cybersecurity and information technology (IT) have become crucial elements of any business. The two fields are often intertwined when discussing cybercrime prevention and mitigation, and they do overlap. However, distinct differences between them exist. Individuals interested in a degree in information cybersecurity technology should identify the differences between cybersecurity vs. information technology, so they can pursue a field that best aligns with their interests.

What’s Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity involves developing protection strategies for systems and networks connected to and through the internet. Its primary objective is to prevent unauthorized access to a company’s hardware, software, and data.

Cybersecurity functions as a defense mechanism against cyberattacks. These attacks can come in many forms, including the following:

Phishing: Sending fraudulent messages designed to look like they’re from reputable sources. These messages trick users into providing sensitive data or opening malicious links.
Malware: Software designed to corrupt a user’s computer or cause damage to a network. It can take on different forms, such as spyware or viruses.
Ransomware: A type of malware that locks a user’s computer system or files, holding data hostage until the user makes a payment.
Distributed Denial of Service Attack: A coordinated attack that deliberately crashes a targeted system or network.

These attacks can target a wide range of sensitive, confidential data. This can include personal data, such as credit card information and Social Security numbers, or vital business information, such as financial records and undisclosed business plans. A successful attack can wreak havoc on a company’s finances and also damage its reputation.

As technology evolves, so does the sophistication of cyberattacks. Additionally, the growing influx of connected devices through cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) gives would-be cyberattackers more entry points to infiltrate systems and networks.

The increasing complexity of these attacks presents cybersecurity professionals with two primary objectives. The first is to keep systems and networks safe. The second is to monitor new cybercrime methods, so they can continue to stay a step ahead of would-be attackers.

What’s Information Technology?

IT encompasses the use of technology-driven devices and equipment to handle electronic data, including data creation, processing, storage, security, and exchange.

Typically, IT is associated with complex networks and systems designed for business efficiency. These networks connect devices that have specific data functions, such as storage or transmittal. The primary goal of IT professionals is to ensure optimal functionality of these systems and networks. This can be crucial to business efficiency, which can make it easier for organizations to reach their growth and stability goals.

Several subcategories fall under IT. These include the following:

Cloud Computing: Access to shared data across multiple computer-based platforms
Databases: Systems designed to store and organize vital electronic information
IoT: A network of interconnected devices that gather, share, and analyze data
Data Analytics: Tools that draw business insights from massive sets of data
Artificial Intelligence: Algorithm-driven technologies that allow computers to perform tasks normally executed by humans

IT strategies typically include three primary objectives: first, to develop and maintain a company’s technology infrastructure; second, to troubleshoot that infrastructure to ensure optimization; and third, to oversee the infrastructure’s security.

Meeting these objectives offers several benefits. It improves productivity by improving communication and enhancing collaboration opportunities. It provides business platforms with new ways to innovate. It helps business operations function more smoothly. Lastly, it helps improve cost efficiency.

Cybersecurity vs. Information Technology: Similarities

Cybersecurity is a field within IT; understanding how cybersecurity fits within IT can provide prospective professionals insight into how the two complement each other in the business sphere.

Association With Security

IT departments use cybersecurity to oversee and protect a company’s information security and sensitive data. By being proactive in developing strategies, they aim to prevent attacks from happening rather than scrambling to find solutions after a system breach.

Broad Industry Application

Technology is essential to doing business in the modern world, driving demand for skilled technology professionals in IT and cybersecurity. This need is clear in large organizations but applies equally to smaller companies. According to a 2023 report issued by the Commerce Technology Engagement Center, 95% of small businesses used at least one technology platform, and 7 out of 10 small business owners stated that they’d struggle to make it without access to various technology platforms.

This widespread demand gives generalist IT professionals and those specializing in cybersecurity a broad scope of industries to consider. This can allow them to seek out IT or cybersecurity roles within an industry that may be relevant to their personal interest, such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and government.

Common Skills

Professionals in IT and cybersecurity need a solid foundation of advanced computer and technological skills to succeed in their fields. IT and cybersecurity also demand other skills that allow professionals to integrate into a company’s culture. These can include solid communication skills that enable them to break down the complexities of network protocols and cybersecurity protections to those outside the field.

Some of the skills needed for either role can also allow individuals to optimize their effectiveness when working with systems, networks, or security infrastructure. These include solid problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking skills.

Certification Possibilities

Obtaining certifications can serve as additional validation of a professional’s skill set in both general IT and more specialized cybersecurity. Employers don’t always require these certifications, but they can allow individuals to stand out from competitors. Having these credentials can also potentially help individuals advance their careers and lead to higher salaries.

A Strong Job Market

Regardless of the career path, both IT and cybersecurity offer a wealth of opportunities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects roughly 377,500 job openings annually within computer and IT occupations between 2022 and 2032. While the growth rates within IT in general and cybersecurity more specifically may differ, both promise higher growth than the 3% predicted for all professions in the forecast period. For example, the BLS projects 15% job growth for computer and information systems managers, a nonsecurity IT role. For information security analysts, the BLS projects 32% job growth.

Cybersecurity vs. Information Technology: Differences

As a specialized area, cybersecurity has a narrower focus than the larger sector of IT. These distinctions make them two vital components of an organization’s business strategy. The growing importance of integrating technology into business operations will only increase the value of IT as a whole and cybersecurity specifically.

Job Definition and Scope

The biggest difference between cybersecurity vs. information technology is the nature of the respective roles. IT encompasses the entirety of an organization’s technology operations. IT professionals ensure that a company’s networks, systems, and devices are operating, connecting, and communicating as they should. They seek out vulnerabilities that may cause disruptions and recommend solutions.

Cybersecurity is a subfield of IT. Cybersecurity professionals focus on protecting an organization’s technology systems, network, and data from potential cyberattacks. They search for gaps that can be exploited by would-be cybercriminals and work to close those gaps before they can be penetrated.

One of the primary objectives of IT is to keep a company’s network and systems safe. However, IT also includes maintaining network infrastructure and operations. As a branch of IT, cybersecurity focuses specifically on protecting systems and data.

Educational Preparation

Because of the difference in focus and scope between IT and cybersecurity, the courses of study for prospective professionals in the two categories differ.

Undergraduate IT coursework commonly focuses on elements of computer science that come into play when building a system or network. Common topics include programming, database management, computer systems, statistics, and cybersecurity.

Undergraduate cybersecurity programs home in on courses devoted to developing cybersecurity strategies that keep a network or system secure. These courses can cover topics such as digital forensics, threat intelligence, network security, secure software development, and cybersecurity ethics.

Field-Specific Skills

Because IT roles oversee entire systems instead of specific areas, they tend to take on roles and projects associated with broader assignments instead of specific tasks. As such, those in the IT field typically have skills associated with management, such as leadership, presentation, collaboration, and project management competencies.

Skills specific to the cybersecurity field tend to be highly technical competencies that focus on recognizing and mitigating cyberattacks. These include risk identification, threat intelligence analysis, cloud security, and application security development.

Cybersecurity Career Opportunities

Cybersecurity offers several career paths worth considering. While the duties may be slightly different, they share the same primary goal of protecting systems from cyberattacks.

Security Architect

Security architects develop and sustain an organization’s network security. They collaborate with key figures in the organization to build complex security infrastructures that protect the most critical technology and data assets. They also use tactics such as cryptography to protect data from attacks. The median annual salary for security architects was around $139,630 as of May 2024, according to Payscale.

Penetration Tester

Penetration testers, or pen testers, stress test a computer system’s security by simulating cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. After detecting system weaknesses, penetration testers recommend ways to fix areas of concern. They may also advise businesses on best practices to keep data secure. The median annual salary for penetration testers as of June 2024 was approximately $95,060, according to Payscale.

Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts develop system security measures to maintain constant system integrity. They keep watch for potential system security breaches and conduct investigations on those that occur. They also maintain security software, check system vulnerabilities, and develop company-wide security best practices. Security analysts also work with IT professionals to develop an organization’s data recovery strategy in the event of a catastrophic loss. The median annual salary for information security analysts was $120,360 as of May 2023, according to the BLS.

IT Career Opportunities

The primary goal in IT is to keep a company’s systems and networks running smoothly. Several roles in the IT sector help meet this objective.

Computer and Information Systems Manager

Also known as IT managers, computer and information systems managers oversee an organization’s computer activities. Those in the role analyze a company’s computer needs and make recommendations on improving the technology infrastructure. They also perform cost analysis of technology projects, install and maintain hardware and software, and negotiate with vendors to obtain efficient service. Additionally, they may oversee other IT professionals. The median annual salary for computer and information systems managers was $169,510 as of May 2023, according to the BLS.

Network Engineers

Network engineers develop, implement, and oversee an organization’s computer networks and infrastructure. They perform routine troubleshooting and maintenance on systems to ensure optimized operation. They also work to improve network performance and financial efficiency. Additionally, they may provide updates on network performance to relevant stakeholders and provide technical support. The median annual salary for network engineers was approximately $81,560 as of June 2024, according to Payscale.

Computer Programmers

Computer programmers create the code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to run accurately. They use programming languages, such as Java and C++, to write new programs or expand and update existing ones. They also test programs to find and fix computer code errors and create code or scripts that can help software run more efficiently. The median annual salary for computer programmers was $99,700 as of May 2023, according to the BLS.

Play a Key Role in the Evolving Business World

Technology’s rapid evolution will continue to shape the face of business. This is good news for those weighing a career in cybersecurity vs. information technology. One of the ways that prospective professionals in the field can prepare is through foundational education, which can foster the main competencies for success.

The online Bachelor of Science in Information & Cybersecurity Technology, Cybersecurity concentration degree completion program at East Carolina University® can help you take a bold step toward an in-demand career. Our program is designed to help you gain expertise in the strategies to keep ahead of cyberattackers, all within an environment that fits your busy schedule. Our cybersecurity concentration takes a hands-on approach, covering topics such as digital forensics, cyber threat intelligence, and secure software development to help you develop a solid understanding of the field’s foundations.

Find out how ECU can prepare you for a bright future in cybersecurity.

Recommended Readings

Cybersecurity Skills by Industry

Network Security Engineer Salary & Job Description

Is Cybersecurity a Good Career? Pathways for Graduates

Sources:

CompTIA, “Your Next Move: Security Architect”

IBM, “What Is Cloud Computing?”

IBM, What Is the Internet of Things (IoT)?

Indeed, “11 Information Technology Skills to Help You Succeed”

Indeed, “Top 17 IT Certifications in Demand for 2024”

Indeed, Understanding IT Security vs. Cyber Security (With FAQs)