Basic Security Concepts

Key Concepts

• Confidentiality
• Integrity
• Availability
• Authentication
• Authorization
• Non-Repudiation
• Physical Security

Confidentiality

Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information is accessible only to those authorized to view it. This is typically achieved through encryption and access controls. Confidentiality prevents unauthorized individuals from reading or accessing the data.

Example: Think of confidentiality as a locked diary. Only the owner has the key to open and read it, ensuring that the contents remain private and secure.

Integrity

Integrity ensures that data remains unchanged and accurate. It involves protecting data from unauthorized modification or corruption. Integrity is maintained through checksums, hashing, and version control mechanisms.

Example: Integrity is like a sealed package. Once sealed, the contents cannot be altered without breaking the seal, ensuring that the package remains intact and unaltered.

Availability

Availability ensures that systems, services, and data are accessible and operational when needed. It involves maintaining system uptime, redundancy, and disaster recovery plans to prevent downtime and ensure continuous access.

Example: Availability is like a reliable water supply. Just as you expect water to flow when you turn the tap, you expect systems and data to be available when needed.

Authentication

Authentication verifies the identity of users or systems. It involves confirming that the person or system claiming an identity is indeed who or what they say they are. Common methods include passwords, biometrics, and multi-factor authentication.

Example: Authentication is like showing an ID at a security checkpoint. Just as the ID proves your identity, authentication methods prove the identity of users or systems.

Authorization

Authorization determines what actions or resources a user or system is allowed to access after authentication. It involves setting permissions and access controls to ensure that users can only perform authorized actions.

Example: Authorization is like a keycard that grants access to certain areas of a building. Just as the keycard determines which doors you can open, authorization determines what resources you can access.

Non-Repudiation

Non-repudiation ensures that a party cannot deny the authenticity of their signature on a document or the sending of a message. It provides proof of the origin and integrity of data, typically through digital signatures and logs.

Example: Non-repudiation is like a signed contract. Just as a signature on a contract cannot be denied, a digital signature ensures that the sender cannot deny sending a message or document.

Physical Security

Physical security protects hardware and physical infrastructure from theft, damage, or unauthorized access. It involves measures such as locks, surveillance cameras, access controls, and environmental controls to ensure the safety of physical assets.

Example: Physical security is like a secure vault. Just as a vault protects valuable items from theft and damage, physical security measures protect hardware and infrastructure from unauthorized access and harm.