spinal chord is protected by vertebral column while the brain is protected by cranium )the part of skull which is protecting brain)
and then further they are protected by 3 membranes made of connective tissues called as meninges as
piamater(innermost)
archnoid membrane
duramater(outermost)
also cerebrospinal fluis acts as a shock absorber present in sub archenoid space(between the piamater and archanoid membrain)