Information security helps ensure that personal information remains private and safe from malicious actors such as hackers. It’s a fundamental right that is legally protected in dozens of countries. In the end, protecting private data privacy of individuals boosts economic growth by helping consumers feel safe with their credit card numbers and home addresses. This trust encourages them to shop online, sign-up for more informational services and engage with companies.
Information security is a set methods and procedures designed to guard against unauthorized access, modification or loss of data whether it be in storage or during transmission. It encompasses both technical as well as operational aspects, from the structure of the system to security audits and information governance.
Password-protected documents, like, help prevent the disclosure of sensitive information by unauthorized parties. Also, encryption is a method to maintain confidentiality. It encrypts the information so that even when it’s in the wrong hands, the individual is unable to extract any value from it. It’s also important to inventory all devices that could contain sensitive information, including file cabinets and mobile devices of employees and flash drives.
Information protection is usually part of an organization’s overall information assurance program. Together, the goal of the CIA triad is to balance security of confidentiality, integrity, and availability while allowing effective policy implementation without compromising productivity. The revised MIT Written Information Security Program is built on this idea, which categorizes Institute research and administrative data based on the level of risk it poses.