A clear definition and overview of the core principles of cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity is the art and science of protecting internet-connected systems such as hardware, software, and data from cyber threats. At its core, it's about managing cyber risk and ensuring the security of digital assets. The practice is built upon three fundamental principles known as the CIA Triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. Confidentiality is a set of rules that limits access to information; it's about preventing the unauthorized disclosure of data. Think of it like a sealed letter that only the intended recipient can open. Encryption is a primary tool for ensuring confidentiality. Integrity is the assurance that information is trustworthy and accurate over its entire lifecycle. It means that data cannot be modified in an unauthorized or undetected manner. For example, a bank's system must ensure that the balance in your account cannot be altered by an attacker. Hashing algorithms are commonly used to verify data integrity. Availability is the guarantee of reliable access to the information by authorized people whenever it is needed. This means systems, networks, and applications must be functioning correctly and not be taken down by attacks like Denial-of-Service (DoS). Understanding these three pillars is crucial as they form the basis of every security policy and mechanism you will encounter in the field. Every security measure aims to uphold one or more of these principles.