Confidentiality, in the context of#cybersecurity and information security, is the principle that ensures information is not made available or disclosed to unauthorized individuals, entities, or processes. In other words, it ensures that sensitive information remains private and secure.
Confidentiality is one of the three core components of the CIA triad, which is a widely used model to guide policies for information security within an organization. The other two components are integrity and availability.
In practice, maintaining confidentiality can involve a variety of security measures, such as:
- Strong Authentication and Access Control: Restricting access to sensitive data.
- Encryption: Protecting data at rest and in transit.
- Secure Communication Channels: Preventing eavesdropping or interception.
- Awareness Training: Educating employees on data protection.
Violations of confidentiality can lead to unauthorized disclosure of personal1 or proprietary information2, which can result in financial loss3, legal consequences, and damage to reputation4.
Footnotes
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Yahoo Data Breach: This event highlighted the scale of potential data breaches in the digital era. ↩
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Sony Pictures Hack: This breach demonstrated the wide-ranging consequences of compromised confidentiality, from personal employee data to international diplomacy. ↩
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The 2017 Equifax data breach is a classic case study in regulatory blow-back. The GAO issued a report concluding that the data breach impacted over 145 million people and resulted in the SSA, USPS, and IRS adjusting their contracts (or in the case of the IRS cancelling existing contracts) with Equifax as a result of the breach. ↩
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Edward Snowden NSA Leak: This incident brought to light the complex dynamics between privacy, confidentiality, and government surveillance. ↩