Read the definition of Information Security below and then answer the question
that follows:
Information security may be defined as that which protects the
integrity, confidentiality and availability of information through
products, people and procedures on the devices that store, manipulate
and transmit the information.
Using suitable examples, elaborate the definition by briefly describing each of the
underlined concepts to make sense of the definition as well as state a clear
example of each concept in your answer.
A. Integrity.
Integrity refers to the concept of ensuring that the information is accurate, reliable, consistent, and complete. It ensures that the information is not altered, unauthorized, or corrupted. For example, a company's database may have measures in place to ensure that only authorized individuals can modify or delete data. This helps maintain the integrity of the information by preventing unauthorized or unintentional changes.
B. Confidentiality.
Confidentiality refers to the protection of sensitive information from unauthorized access or disclosure. It ensures that only authorized individuals or entities can access and view the information. For example, encryption can be used to secure personal and financial information transmitted over a network, ensuring that only the intended recipient can decipher and access the information. This helps maintain confidentiality by preventing unauthorized individuals from gaining access to the sensitive data.
C. Availability.
Availability refers to the concept of ensuring that information is accessible and usable by authorized users whenever needed. It ensures that systems, networks, and data are available and functioning properly without any interruptions or downtime. For example, a business may have redundant servers and backup systems in place to ensure that their website remains accessible even if one server fails. This helps maintain availability by minimizing the impact of any potential system failures or disruptions, ensuring that users can access the information without any interruption.