The goal of cybersecurity, also known as information technology security, is to guard against theft, damage, and unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, and data. In this article, we will delve into the deep information about what are the three goals of cybersecurity.
Cyber threats can originate from a variety of sources in today’s connected world, including hackers, malicious software, and even disgruntled employees.
3 Objectives of Cybersecurity
The objectives of cybersecurity are multifaceted, aiming to safeguard information and maintain the integrity of digital environments. Here are three key objectives:
- Confidentiality
- Integrity
- Availability
What Is Confidentiality?
One of the primary goals of cybersecurity is to ensure the confidentiality of sensitive information. This involves implementing robust measures to prevent unauthorized access to data. Encryption, access controls, and secure authentication mechanisms are vital to achieving confidentiality.
Whether it’s personal data, financial information, or classified government documents, maintaining confidentiality is crucial for building trust in digital transactions and communication
Types of confidentiality
There are several types of confidentiality in information security:
- Data Confidentiality
It refers to the safeguarding of data from unwanted access, use, disclosure, and modification that is stored in computer systems and networks. Many techniques, including access controls and encryption, are used to accomplish this.
- Network confidentiality
It is used to describe the safeguarding of data sent over computer networks against illegal access, interception, and manipulation. Secure protocols like SSL/TLS and encryption are used to accomplish this.
- End-to-end confidentiality
This type of confidentiality pertains to the safeguarding of data transferred between two endpoints, like a client and a server, against manipulation or unwanted access. Secure protocols and encryption are used to accomplish this.
- Application confidentiality
This pertains to preventing unauthorized access, use, or modification of sensitive data that software applications process and store. Access controls, user authentication, and data encryption used in the application help achieve this.
- Disk and file confidentiality
It refers to the safeguarding against theft or unauthorized access of data kept on physical storage devices, like hard drives. Access controls, secure storage facilities, and encryption are used.
What is Integrity?
Maintaining the integrity of data and systems is another critical cybersecurity goal. This involves safeguarding against unauthorized alterations or manipulations of information.
Cyber threats often include attempts to compromise the accuracy and reliability of data, potentially leading to misinformation or system malfunctions.
Through techniques such as checksums, digital signatures, and secure coding practices, cybersecurity strives to ensure that data remains intact and unaltered throughout its lifecycle.
How can integrity be upheld in cybersecurity?
Retaining data integrity has emerged as a critical component of information security for global organizations. A variety of preventative measures need to be implemented to reduce the likelihood that the information within your company will be compromised.
While it is nearly impossible to completely eradicate every risk, there are some techniques and methods that can be used to reduce risk and improve security.
Let’s examine the top three in more detail:
- Need-to-know access
Users should only be allowed access to the files and programs they require to carry out the tasks assigned to them.
- Separation of duties
Two or more persons should be in charge of carrying out a transaction to guarantee that no one employee is in charge of it from start to finish.
- Rotation of duties
Periodically changing job assignments will make it harder for users to work together to take full control of a transaction and manipulate it for fraudulent ends.
What is availability?
Availability in cybersecurity refers to the accessibility and functionality of information and resources when needed. It is one of the three pillars of the CIA triad, alongside confidentiality and integrity.
Ensuring availability involves protecting systems and data from disruptions, unauthorized access, and various cyber threats that can compromise a network’s operational capabilities.
There are several types of availability in cybersecurity:
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
These attacks flood a system, service, or network with excessive traffic, overwhelming its capacity and making it unavailable to legitimate users.
- Hardware Failures
Availability is also threatened by physical failures, such as hardware malfunctions or crashes, that can render systems and services inaccessible.
- Software Failures and Bugs
Flaws in software code or system configuration can lead to crashes or malfunctions, impacting the availability of services.
- Power Outages
Infrastructure dependencies on electrical power make systems susceptible to disruptions, emphasizing the importance of power backup systems for availability.
- Human Errors
Unintentional mistakes by users or administrators, such as misconfigurations, can compromise system availability.
- Malware and Ransomware
Malicious software can disrupt operations by infecting systems and encrypting data, making it inaccessible until a ransom is paid.
Effective cybersecurity measures, including robust network design, regular backups, intrusion detection systems, and disaster recovery plans, are essential to mitigate these threats and ensure the availability of critical systems and data.
Conclusion:
As the digital landscape continues to expand, the goals of confidentiality, integrity, and availability remain fundamental pillars of cybersecurity. Achieving these objectives requires a multifaceted approach, combining advanced technologies, vigilant monitoring, and continuous adaptation to emerging threats.
By prioritizing these goals, cybersecurity efforts contribute not only to individual safety but also to the resilience and reliability of the interconnected systems that define our modern world.
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