Information security is the process of reducing risk by creating secure systems that reduce or eliminate vulnerabilities that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive business or personal information. It also includes a range of technology solutions, including firewalls, antivirus and encryption to protect against harm caused by information theft or loss. This field, often referred to as InfoSec, has evolved into an extremely specialized field that includes everything from network infrastructure and security to auditing and testing.
No matter the size or nature, every business holds sensitive information. The information could include names, Social Security Numbers, credit card numbers and other account details. It could also contain employee records, as well as other private information. This information can be used to commit identity theft and fraud, which can be devastating to the image of a business.
A robust information information protection protection strategy is essential to safeguard businesses from data breaches and maintain compliance with regulations. To do this it’s essential to remember that there are three pillars of information security: confidentiality, integrity and availability.
Confidentiality is about securing information from disclosure by unauthorized persons and keeping it only accessible to those authorized to disclose it. This can be achieved through simple measures like requiring strong passwords and regular modifications, and using encryption to encrypt information so that it is only accessible to those who have the key, or opting for messaging platforms that encrypt your messages. Another aspect of data protection is the ability to ensure that the information is always accessible and able to be restored in case in the event of a catastrophe or system failure. This can be achieved through backups and archiving solutions.