Is information security a priority for your IT area, or do you not care about your business’s valuable data? Every online business is under constant threat from computer viruses and hackers.
A new computer virus appears every three seconds. The time has come to know the main pillars of information security in the IT area. Thus, you will understand the importance of investing in stocks that will avoid serious problems for your business.
What Is Information Security?
Information security concerns protecting essential data of a particular organization or person, that is, their information.
We define it as information, all data or content that has value for the entity, be it a company, person, government, etc.
The essential priorities of information security are:
- Confidentiality;
- Integrity;
- Availability.
The entire concept of Information security was standardized.
What Is Part Of Information Security?
All the company’s assets are involved in some way: computers, networks, software, hardware, and even employees. Each of them has a role when it comes to security.
The Computers
Computers are the primary means of manipulating information in companies. It is through them that knowledge is created, modified, stored, etc.
Thus, this item must be well protected from threats. For this, specific software and hardware can be used.
The Software
Among the software that makes up information security, the main ones are:
- Antivirus;
- Antispyware;
- Antimalware;
- Firewall;
- Proxy.
Generally speaking, they serve to filter content and identify possible security threats. These features prevent these threats from exploiting any vulnerability and carrying out an attack.
The Hardware
Regarding hardware, the firewall is the main ally in information security. The firewall can exist in either software or hardware form, with similar goals.
However, the firewall as dedicated hardware offers a set of specific features that allow for better management. In addition, the hardware’s processing power is superior to that of the software.
The Collaborators
Among the employees, everyone must be aware of the security rules so that they do not become a point of attack.
That’s because if a single person violates the rules, he can open a security breach and compromise the entire network.
There are also professionals involved in executing and managing safety activities and routines, whether the company or outsourced partners contract them.
Security Analysts and Engineers who design and plan security best practices for the organization. Security Technicians who implement and execute the planned actions.
Nor can we forget the Managers, who must be responsible for disseminating these practices in the company so that they are faithfully carried out.
The Pillars Of Information Security
Traditionally, information security was composed of three pillars, known by the acronym CID: confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
However, over the years, three more items have been added: authenticity, non-repudiation (or non-repudiation), and compliance. Therefore, we can now say that information security has six main pillars.
Confidentiality
This item concerns all actions to protect information and ensure it travels confidentially. For this, several practices are adopted, which include, for example, data encryption. In addition, confidentiality also includes restrictions on who can access specific data.
Integrity
Here the important thing will be to ensure that the information is not modified without proper authorization.
It is necessary to ensure that the information is not altered during its transit, storage, or processing and remains intact. This pillar of information security ensures, for example, that recipients receive the data as it is sent.
Availability
This pillar refers to the characteristic of the information being available to the user when he needs it. Software, hardware, data, and connections must be offered to users so that they have access to information. Of course, we respect the confidentiality rules established by the information security area.
Authenticity
The pillar of authenticity was established to ensure that the information comes from a reliable source. For this, it is necessary to keep a record of the author of certain information to attest to its integrity.
Irreversibility (Or Non-Repudiation)
This pillar was created to prevent any user from denying the authorship of certain information, thus guaranteeing its authenticity. Thus, neither the author nor the receiver can contest any data transaction they perform.
Conformity
Information security must also ensure that its processes comply with laws and regulations. Because of this, the pillar of compliance was also established, ensuring that the proper protocols are followed within the sector.
Information Security Activities
The attributions of this professionals involve many factors. Starting with installing and configuring security solutions, such as antivirus, firewall, antimalware, antispyware, anti ransomware, etc.
All this is to filter the contents executed in the workstations, protecting the information against theft, alterations, and destruction.
Added to this, there is also the constant monitoring of data networks to avoid or minimize the damage caused by attacks.
To inform those responsible, information security must always be attentive to failures in third-party systems which may be discovered.
Also Read: What Is Virtualization, And How Can It Benefit Business?