Ethical Hacking vs Cyber Security – Key Differences Explained

Even though cybersecurity and ethical hacking are related, they are two distinct fields. 

Ethical hackers/ white hat hackers, actively probe systems for vulnerabilities and fix them. 

Cybersecurity is a much broader field. Cybersecurity professionals adopt a defensive stance. Their job is to implement and maintain various security controls, such as firewalls, encryption, and access management. 

In this blog post, we discuss the nitty-gritty of both ethical hacking and cybersecurity along with a detailed comparison. 

What Is Cybersecurity?

Many people think that ethics hacking is related to cyber security in one way or another; however, it should be made clear that those two sides primarily strive for one thing despite having varying manners of doing so. 

Building an impregnable system against advanced malware attacks like phishing attempts, cryptojacking attempts or ransomware comes under cyber security expert mandate. 

According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), there has been a shocking 113.7 percent increase in cyber crimes in India in May 2024 (60.9 percent more than in 2022).

In order to meet the weight and gravity of the essential threat, cyber security specialists use their understanding of distinct instruments and ways; firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), cryptographic technology, and also SEIM platforms are among them.

Categories of Cybersecurity:

Both ethical hacking and cyber security can be divided into various subcategories. In this segment, let’s quickly go over the diverse category of cybersecurity:

• Network Security: Organizations recruit network security professionals to safeguard their network infrastructure and connections from unauthorized access and misuse.
• Application Security: Refers to security measures at an application level to protect apps from external threats. 
• Information Security: This subsection involves best practices to safeguard data integrity, confidentiality, and availability throughout its lifecycle.
• Endpoint Security: Helps shielding devices like laptops, desktops, and mobile phones from becoming entry points for cyber attacks
• Operational Security: Refers to establishing protocols and technologies to protect sensitive systems and data from unauthorized access and unusual behavior
• Cloud Security: Cloud security mechanisms help secure data, applications, and infrastructure associated with cloud computing environments.
• Cryptography: The practice of using mathematical algorithms to encrypt data.
• Identity and Access Management: Companies take special security measures to control user authentication and limit authorization to system resources.
• Mobile Security: Practices involve protecting smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices from cyber threats.
• IoT Security: This relatively new category of cybersecurity focuses on protecting internet-connected devices and networks from vulnerabilities.

Why Cybersecurity is More Crucial Than Ever

As per the latest figures, approximately 66 percent of the firms are tightening their cyber security. Here’s why:

Data Protection

Protecting confidential data from getting breached is one of the primary duties of cybersecurity professionals. Features like AES-256 encryption and zero-knowledge proof help firms protect data from hack attacks. The features of cybersecurity such as multi-factor authentication and role-based access control ensure that only authorized personnel are allowed to access the data.

Business Continuity

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) are among those new technologies organizations use to rapidly detect and mitigate threats. These tools can feed data from other sources through machine learning algorithms and also give a very fast identification of scatter and actual attacks in real time.

Customer Trust Enhancement

Modern businesses of any scale employ end-to-end encryption for the communication lines and SSL certificates for the websites. This way, one can show the clients and company’s dedication to the safety of their information.

Large tech giants like Google go a notch higher with privacy-preserving technologies such as homomorphic encryption to work on data while still being in encrypted form

Regulatory Compliance

Enterprises are required to meet legal and industry standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. To avoid non-compliance penalties, companies frequently scan their access logs and implement data classification.

What Is Ethical Hacking?

Before we get to what is the difference between a hacker and a cybersecurity professional, let’s quickly understand what ethical hacking is. 

Ethical hacking or penetration testing simulates real-world cyberattacks with authorization. To simplify, ethical hackers do exactly what black hat hackers do, but for a good cause. 

The purpose of ethical hacking is to pinpoint vulnerabilities within a system before malicious actors can exploit them. The demand for certified ethical hackers can shoot up by 25% in the near future. 

So, if you want to become an ethical hacker and join this fight against cyber threats, there’s no time like the present. 

Types of Ethical Hacking

Here are the top 5 types of ethical hacking techniques professionals use:

• Web Application Hacking: The act of searching for vulnerabilities such as SQL injection vulnerabilities or poor user authentication in web-based applications.
• Wireless Network Hacking: The hacker takes advantage of the gap in the encryption algorithms or spies on the possible data transmission without encryption.
• Black box testing: Black box testing: Imagine trying to break into a building without any blueprints. That’s what black-box testing is like. Ethical hackers use this technique to see what weaknesses someone on the outside might find in a software program.
• White-box testing: Also known as clear-box testing, in this case, the hacker tests the internal structures or workings of an application for a comprehensive security analysis from an insider’s perspective.
• Grey-box testing: This is when hackers use a combination of the above techniques to get a complete picture of a system’s security.

Why Is Ethical Hacking Important? 

Now, let’s briefly discuss why ethical hacking is essential in the digital age:

• Finding Hidden Weaknesses: Regular security checks are great, but they might miss hidden flaws like outdated software or weak encryption. Ethical hackers, like digital bloodhounds, sniff out these vulnerabilities before bad guys can.
• Shoring Up Defenses: Ethical hackers act like attackers by simulating real-world cyberattacks. Their goal is to expose weaknesses in your overall security system. This helps you fix the gaps and build stronger defenses.
• Empowering Your Team: Think of ethical hackers as security trainers for your employees. They teach them about common tricks hackers use, like fake emails or password scams. This knowledge empowers your team to become their own cybersecurity heroes.
• Building a Fortress: By uncovering security holes, ethical hackers help you improve your response plans, how your network is divided (segmentation), and how access is controlled. This creates a more secure digital fortress to keep your data safe.

Cyber Security vs Ethical Hacking Comparison Chart

If you are here to explore career prospects in cybersecurity and ethical hacking, refer to the comparison chart below to get a clearer idea:

Key Difference Between Cyber Security & Ethical Hacking

What is the difference between a hacker and a cybersecurity professional?

As you might have already guesstimated by now, the former takes an aggressive approach while the latter builds defensive strategies. 

To paint a clearer picture of ethical hacking and cyber security, here goes a detailed comparison based on key parameters:

1. Key Responsibility Area (KRA)

• Cyber security: Designing security architectures and controls, implementing them, monitoring for injuries, and reporting any suspicion to the police.
•  Ethical Hacking: These professionals are tasked with finding gaps in the existing security system/network through various testing methods we discussed previously. 

To learn more about career prospects in ethical hacking – including job requirements, salary, and latest trends, read our blog post on career in ethical hacking. 

2. Core Objectives:

• Cyber Security: Build a rock-solid defense strategy to protect an organization’s assets, data, and systems from unauthorized access, theft, and damage. This further involves maintaining the CIA triad of information across all digital platforms.
• Ethical Hacking: By exposing security weaknesses within the system, white hat hackers provide actionable intelligence that allows cyber security analysts to strengthen their defenses and reduce their attack surface.

3. Methods

Another core areas where cyber security and ethical hacking differs lie in the methods they use.

• Cyber Security: Common cyber security methods include (but aren’t restricted to):
  • Firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems
  • Endpoint protection solutions (e.g, antivirus software)
  • Regular security audits and risk assessments
  • Encryption for data at rest and in transit
  • Access control and identity management systems
• Ethical Hacking: Interestingly, ethical hackers use methods similar to those of malicious hackers, but with permission. 
  • Network scanning and enumeration
  • Vulnerability assessments and exploitation
  • Social engineering techniques
  • Password cracking
  • Web application testing (SQL injection, XSS, etc.)
  • Wireless network testing

Become a certified ethical hacker by joining our expertly curated CEH certification training program. 

Importance of Certifications to Bolster Your Career in Cyber Security & Ethical Hacking

Both cyber security and ethical hacking are two extremely tough fields to crack, considering the rapid pace of technological advancements, the sophistication of cyber threats, and the necessity for constant learning and adaptation. 

Having certifications in your chosen field comes with the following advantages:

• Certifications are a formal recognition of an individual’s knowledge and abilities.
• It’s a proof of your professional credibility.
• You can have a competitive edge in the job market.
• Relevant certifications are your key to salary increments, promotions, and better job opportunities.
• Helps you stay current with the latest trends, tools, and techniques in your field.

Top 5 Cyber Security Certifications:

• CompTIA Security+
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)
• IT Fundamentals (ITF+)

Top 5 Ethical Hacking  Certifications: 

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
• Certified Penetration Testing Engineer (C)PTE) 
• GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)
• CompTIA PenTest+

Final Word

Cybersecurity and ethical hacking have emerged as two of the most in-demand tech jobs for this tech-enthusiast generation. Given the rapid advancement of technology and simultaneous increase in cyber attacks, professionals have to be more vigilant, adaptive, and innovative than ever before. 

Do you aspire to become a successful ethical hacker? Check out our Ethical hacking tutorial todayto start learning the ropes. 

FAQs

1. Which one is the best ethical hacking or cyber security?

Ans. Neither is “best” – both are critical for the security. The choice depends on your personal interests and career goals.

2. Can an ethical hacker switch to cyber security?

Ans. Yes, ethical hackers can switch to cybersecurity as both fields share common skills and knowledge.

3. Which job pays more, ethical hacker or cyber security?

Ans. Salaries vary widely, but senior cybersecurity roles typically pay more due to broader responsibilities.

4. What is the salary of an ethical hacker?

Ans. According to Glassdoor, the average salary of an Ethical Hackers in India is approx. ₹2,18000 per annum. Senior and Expert-level ethical hackers earn between ₹8,00,000 – ₹12,00,000 whereas experts with 10+ years of experience earn ₹14,00,000+. 

5. What is the monthly income you can generate from cybersecurity?

Ans. The average monthly cybersecurity salary in India ranges from ₹30,000 to ₹60,000, while mid-level positions can vary from ₹50,000 to ₹1,50,000 per month.