Difference between Security and Protection in Operating System

An operating system offers a technique to avoid tampering with logical and physical resources. Two of these are security and protection. Although these terms are frequently used interchangeably, protection and security are different. Protection entails preventing unauthorized users from interfering with the user's applications and data. In contrast, security entails protecting the user's programs and data against disruption by outside parties like unauthorized users of other systems.

In this article, you will learn about Security and Protection in the operating system. But before discussing the differences, you must know about the security and protection of the OS.

What is security in the operating system?

A system's security revolves around its external environment and needs a suitable protective system. Security systems safeguard computer resources against unauthorized access, manipulation, and inconsistency. In this context, resources might be stored information in the system, CPU, memory, drives, etc.

The system's security emphasizes the system's authentication process to secure the physical resources and the integrity of the information contained in the system. Security is a method that protects the user's programs and data against interference produced by an entity or person outside the system. For instance, multiple workers of an organization can access data. Still, it cannot be accessed by a user who does not exist in that organization or a user who works in another organization. An organization's primary responsibility is to implement security measures to prevent unauthorized access to its data by external users.

What is Protection in Operating System?

Protection is a component of security that regulates system access by restricting the types of file access permitted to users. A system's security must ensure the permission of processes or users. As a result, authorized users or processes can access the CPU, memory regions, and other resources. The protection technique should include a way of identifying and enforcing the controls that will be enforced.

The protection was thought to be a useful feature for a multiprogramming OS. It prevents unreliable users from sharing a logical and physical namespace, including a directory of files and memory. Protection is required to intercept a user's malicious, purposeful breach of an access constraint. However, it is vital to ensure that each active program component in a system only uses system resources in the ways defined in policies. It protects the user's data and apps from interception by other system users.

Key differences between the Security and Protection in Operating System

There are various key differences between security and protection in the OS. Some key differences between security and protection are as follows:

1. Security is a technique used in operating systems to address threats from outside the system to maintain the system's proper functioning. On the other hand, protection is a technique used in operating systems to control hazards and maintain the system's proper functioning.
2. The security technique specifies whether or not a specific user is allowed to access the system. In contrast, the protection technique outlines which users are permitted to access a certain resource.
3. Security techniques include adding, deleting users, determining whether or not a certain user is authorized, employing anti-malware software, etc. On the other hand, protection includes techniques like modifying a resource's protection information and determining whether a user may access it.
4. Security is a wide phrase that handles more complicated queries. On the other hand, the protection comes with security and covers less complex queries.
5. Security techniques mainly focus on external threats to the system. On the other hand, the protection techniques mainly focus on internal threats to the system.
6. Security offers a technique for protecting system and user resources from unauthorized access. On the other hand, the protection controls access to processes, programs, and user resources.

Head-to-head comparison between the Security and Protection in Operating System

There are various head-to-head comparisons between the security and protection in the operating system. Some comparisons of security and protection are as follows:

Conclusion

Security is a more complex system than protection since protection deals with internal risks and the environment, whereas security deals with external threats.