What is CIA Triad?

The CIA triad, also known as the CIA triangle, stands for "Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability". It is a fundamental concept of information security and forms the basis of data security in organizations.

What do the three components (aka IT security objectives) of the CIA triad mean?

1. Confidentiality:
   Access controls must be implemented in such a way that data can only be viewed by authorized users. 2FA creates an additional layer of protection. Both confidentiality during access and during transport is important here. Penetration tests of relevant systems can help identify vulnerabilities that could compromise confidentiality.
2. Integrity:
   Both data and the system working with this data must be correct or function correctly to ensure integrity. Digital signatures and data validation mechanisms are important tools here. Version control can also help to better track changes to data.
3. Availability:
   Data and the delivering systems should be accessible nonstop for authorized users. In practice, this is not always possible, but one should try to keep down-times minimal. Redundant systems and regular backups can help here. Distributing data across different locations can also increase availability.

Why is the CIA triad important?

Organizations must observe the CIA triad to protect against cyber threats such as data breaches and data leaks. Therefore, it is important that security policies and regulatory frameworks/compliance are followed to ensure business continuity.