CIA Triad in IT Security

Introduction

• The CIA Triad is a fundamental concept in IT security.
• Also known as the AIC Triad to avoid confusion with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
• The Triad consists of three core principles: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.
• Often depicted as a triangle, each leg represents one of these security objectives.

C - Confidentiality

• Objective: Prevent unauthorized access to private information.
• Methods to Ensure Confidentiality:
  • Encryption:
    • Data is encrypted before transmission and decrypted by the recipient.
    • Ensures that intercepted data cannot be understood.
  • Access Controls:
    • Limits who can access certain information.
    • Example: Marketing department can access marketing data but not accounting data.
  • Authentication Factors:
    • Additional authentication steps enhance confidentiality.
    • Prevents unauthorized access without proper credentials.

I - Integrity

• Objective: Ensure data received is unchanged from what was sent.
• Methods to Ensure Integrity:
  • Hashing:
    • Sender creates a hash of the data and sends it alongside the data.
    • Receiver hashes the received data to confirm it matches the sender's hash.
  • Digital Signatures:
    • A hash encrypted with asymmetric encryption to confirm data integrity and sender identity.
  • Certificates:
    • Used to authenticate the identity of devices or individuals.
  • Non-repudiation:
    • Provides proof that the data received came from the claimed sender.

A - Availability

• Objective: Ensure users can access the data when needed.
• Methods to Ensure Availability:
  • System Design:
    • Systems designed to be continuously operational.
  • Fault Tolerance:
    • Redundancy in systems to handle component failures.
  • System Management and Updates:
    • Regular patching to maintain stability and close security vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

• The CIA Triad is essential in designing and implementing IT security measures.
• Balancing these three elements is crucial for effective security management.