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Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA Triad)

Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (otherwise referred to as the CIA Triad) is the backbone of information security. This model guides the policies for information security with an established organization.

Confidentiality is a set of rules that limits access to sensitive information. Confidentiality measures should prevent company information from being accessed by the wrong hands. Integrity is the assurance that the information is not only trustworthy, but accurate. To maintain integrity information, security teams must ensure that data is unaltered by data transfers and secure from unauthorized alterations.

Availability is a guarantee that authorized persons will be able to access the information when necessary. To guarantee data availability, proper security measures must be in place to maintain software and hardware infrastructures.

What Small and Midsize Businesses Need to Know About Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA Triad)

Small and midsize businesses are typically the main target of malicious cyberattacks that can prove detrimental to the public reputation and bottom line of a company. The Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (the CIA Triad) framework helps the security departments of smaller organizations develop security policies and protocols, enabling them to maintain data security and adhere to industry rules and regulations.

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