Cyber security and ethical hacking, also known as penetration testing fields, have the same goal. Each is working towards the betterment of a company’s security system, albeit with vastly different methods and objectives – all connected to the same goal: keeping a system safe.
What are the differences between cyber security and ethical hacking? Ethical Hacking is all about finding exploits like vulnerable systems including applications which are misconfigured, have vulnerabilities or do not conform to security best practice before these exploits are found by hackers. Cyber Security on the other hand is about mitigating any security risks by using appropriate security controls, so with vulnerabilities found with Ethical Hacking, Cyber Security will look at remediating vulnerabilities.
In Cyber Security, ethical hacking is used to find exploits before the hackers find them. These exploits can include misconfigured services, tools and applications, as well as vulnerabilities and poor or lacking security best practices.
Ethical hacking is part of the Cyber Security, as it allows the risks of potential vulnerabilities, misconfigurations and poor security practices to be quickly found. With Cyber Security then responsible for fixing the security issues to ensure the risk of attack and breach are minimized.
The following table highlights the further differences between Cyber Security and Ethical Hacking.
| Cyber security does this… | ..and Ethical Hackers do this | |
| 1. | Recognizes/resolves potential security issues | Attempts to breach that security |
| 2. | Develops access privileges for system protection | Tries to hack into that system |
| 3. | Reports violations/anything out of the ordinary | Exploits company weaknesses using tests to show weaknesses |
| 4. | Assesses security system in place and incorporates improvements using most current technology and with company requirements anticipated | Penetration testers test these improvements for effectiveness and work to enhance ideology |
| 5. | Perform regular audits to assess for inefficiencies and violations | Evaluate the system for performance based on criteria that are established |
| 6. | Regular system maintenance to keep security updated | Regular system, network, and web application security testing designed in an attempt to violate the system |
| 7. | Allow transparency for anyone who has access to the system via status reports | Following completed research and thorough tests, findings are documented, and security reports are written Testers consult with management and IT regarding resolutions and offer feedback once fixes are in place |
| 8. | Working with various clients to show them where security weaknesses are and help them make improvements | This group does the same thing only with a different technique They use their weaknesses to show them where they need to make improvements |
| 9. | Show the impact that the violations will bring to an organization | Consider how the ‘attack’ they implement is going to affect the business and users |
| 10. | Needs to stay informed on technical advances via various training options, including workshops | The ethical hacker is preferred to have a bachelor’s degree, but it is possible to go in at entry level with the appropriate technical background |
Cyber security personnel is often employed with the company that they’re protecting and spend their days trying to keep all crime, flaws, viruses, and weaknesses away. Ethical hackers are often freelance professionals that businesses hire to bring threat to their company, so they can see where they may be the most vulnerable. We’ll talk about the differences between the two in more detail below
Difference Between Cyber Security And Ethical Hacking
Cyber security and ethical hacking play an essential role in system security for the business community, depending on how a company wants to approach the issue In the cyber world, they deal in the computer aspect as far as the data and anything associated with technology such as the servers, including the software, hardware, networks
- Through cyber security, data, and computing assets for a particular company’s network are protected.
- Ethical hacking comprises anything that goes into attacking these components but with permission.
It is the cyber security professional’s responsibility to defend informatics against any type of threat before, during, or after there are any violations.
Ethical hackers go by a variety of aliases, including that of ‘white hat,’ which is considered to be the optimal security professional with expertise in locating and exploiting weaknesses and vulnerabilities contained in systems as a criminal hacker would.
These hackers actually use the same techniques but with permission and legally before the malicious attackers can find their way in
Cyber Security
In simple terms, cyber security is basically the defense of computers and their servers along with networks, our mobile devices, various electronic systems, and any type of informatics from malicious attacks. It has a designation also as computer security or IT security.
For a business to not invest in cyber security would be comparable to a home having no locks. Companies, whether they are a small business or a large corporation, require an expert in cyber security as any type of company is going to be a target for the ‘black hat’ hackers.
Engaging a security team or even a security person for a small business will allow for a balance between the resources for those defending themselves and the skills of those implementing the attacks.
Cyber security professionals stay on top of the technology industry, so their goal is to increase the intelligence of the resources necessary for the hackers to infest, making it increasingly challenging for the criminal. And hopefully, that business will, at some point, become not worth the effort
Ethical Hackers
Ethical hackers can often be referred to as penetration testers. However, they possess a broader range of skills than that and also have the alias of ‘white hat’ hackers because they do their hacking legally compared to their ‘black hat’ hacker counterparts who are the malicious brand.
The purpose of this position is to actually play the role of a malicious cybercriminal only with permission to do so. In performing the ‘illegal’ actions that a black hat hacker would, an ethical hacker opens the company’s eyes as to where they are exposed to the criminal world.
Many organizations feel they are completely secure with no issues, and some of them come with their own cyber security.
The problem is that someone in the position of cyber security doesn’t think along the lines of a hacker, and this is where an ethical hacker becomes invaluable. They are legitimate, but they know how the ‘bad guys’ think and work.
This is part of their education and training. The problem is there aren’t enough of them, and many businesses agree they are beneficial and needed The claim is that the ‘good guys’ are becoming outnumbered vastly, mostly since there is no program in the better colleges that offer it
The suggestion is that those who have been in the field for any length of time learned by doing, but today it’s not possible legally Today’s young people need the opportunity to practice safely in order to perfect their skills, and no one is offering that
Two-Pronged Protection Against Cyber Attacks
Company’s take great pains in using cyber security and ethical hacking to avoid the backlash that comes with being hacked. Not only is it a significant hit cost-wise for the business, but more importantly, there is loss as far as exposed or stolen confidential information.
The company will typically face public humiliation through the media, including news headlines causing damage to client trust, particularly with the knowledge that their data was violated. In saying that, the company faces legal consequences for these issues.
Any business concerned about having to face any of these issues will find a strong argument for investing in the services of cyber security or that of ethical hackers.
In the event of a company being violated, the business needs to rethink their whole strategy because their brand has been desecrated There will not be a returning customer who will find faith and trust in their industry And once the media blazes the business name throughout the channels, other businesses will think twice before collaborating.
Why Your Business Needs In-House Cyber security and Ethical Hackers
You may want to have cyber security personnel in-house to protect data regularly each day. This will keep you informed of when a potential threat imposes itself into the system.
Adding the extra measure of an ethical hacker will ensure that there is practice for potentially criminal behavior to seek out weaknesses or vulnerabilities that may not have been otherwise detected.
You don’t have to choose one or the other. In today’s world, it’s getting tough to protect against the intellect of those in the black hat community If you want your business to thrive and survive you may need to invest in each security service for the greater good of your company