What does ‘confidential’ mean in information security?

In information security, the term ‘confidential’ refers to one of the three fundamental pillars of protection requirements analysis, often referred to as the CIA triad. The CIA triad includes confidentiality, integrity and availability. In this context, confidentiality describes the protection of information from unauthorised access and disclosure.

What exactly does ‘confidentiality’ mean?

Confidentiality means that only authorised persons or systems may have access to certain information. This is to prevent sensitive or private data from falling into the hands of unauthorised third parties and being misused. Protecting confidentiality is a central requirement in information security and is implemented by various security mechanisms and controls.

How is confidentiality ensured in information security?

There are several measures and principles that help to maintain the confidentiality of information:

1. Access controls:

• Authentication: Ensuring that only authorised users can access certain systems or data (e.g. by means of passwords, biometrics or two-factor authentication).
• Authorisation: Ensuring that users only have access to the information they need for their tasks (principle of least privilege or need-to-know).

1. Encryption:

• Data is protected with encryption technologies to make it unintelligible in the event of unauthorised access. This applies both to data that is stored (e.g. hard drive encryption) and to data that is transmitted over networks (e.g. SSL/TLS for encrypting web communication).

1. Secure communication:

• Secure protocols such as HTTPS or VPN ensure that information cannot be intercepted or viewed by unauthorised third parties during transmission.

1. Security policies and training:

• Organisations establish security policies that govern the handling of confidential information and provide training to ensure that employees are aware of the importance of confidentiality and follow best security practices.

1. Physical security measures:

• The physical protection of systems and devices containing confidential information also plays an important role. This includes access controls to data centres and securing end devices against theft or unauthorised access.

Examples of confidential information:

• Personal data: name, address, date of birth, social security number
• Financial data: bank account information, credit card details, tax returns
• Business information: trade secrets, strategic business plans, confidential contracts
• Health information: patient data, medical records
• Intellectual property: software source code, patents, research data

Risks of a lack of confidentiality:

A loss of confidentiality can have serious consequences, such as:

• Identity theft: when personal data falls into the wrong hands.
• Financial damage: misuse of credit card or bank data.
• Loss of reputation: loss of trust among customers and partners.
• Legal consequences: violations of data protection laws such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) can result in heavy fines.

Conclusion:

In information security, confidentiality means protecting data from unauthorised access or disclosure. It is about ensuring that only authorised individuals or systems can access certain information and that this information is protected from theft, misuse or loss.