6-1 Security Concepts Explained

Key Concepts

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

Confidentiality

Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information is accessible only to those authorized to view it. This is typically achieved through encryption, access controls, and secure communication protocols. For example, when you log into your online bank account, the data transmitted between your device and the bank's server is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.

Integrity

Integrity ensures that data remains accurate and unaltered during storage and transmission. This is often maintained through checksums, hashing algorithms, and digital signatures. For instance, when you download a software update, the integrity of the file is verified using a checksum to ensure it has not been tampered with during transmission.

Availability

Availability ensures that systems, data, and services are accessible when needed. This is achieved through redundancy, failover mechanisms, and regular maintenance. For example, cloud service providers often use multiple data centers to ensure continuous availability of their services, even in the event of a hardware failure.

Authentication

Authentication verifies the identity of users and systems. This is commonly done through passwords, biometric scans, and multi-factor authentication (MFA). For example, when you log into your email account, you may be asked to enter a password and a verification code sent to your phone to authenticate your identity.

Authorization

Authorization determines what actions an authenticated user or system is allowed to perform. This is managed through access control lists (ACLs), role-based access control (RBAC), and permissions. For instance, in a corporate network, an administrator may have full access to all systems, while a regular employee may only have access to their own files and applications.

Non-Repudiation

Non-Repudiation ensures that a party cannot deny the authenticity of their signature on a document or the sending of a message. This is often achieved through digital signatures and audit logs. For example, in a legal contract, a digital signature ensures that the signer cannot later deny having signed the document.

Examples and Analogies

Think of confidentiality as a locked safe that only authorized personnel can open. Integrity is like a sealed package that cannot be opened without breaking the seal, ensuring the contents remain unchanged. Availability is like a reliable delivery service that ensures your package arrives on time.

Authentication is like showing your ID at the entrance of a secure building to prove your identity. Authorization is like having a keycard that grants you access to specific rooms within the building based on your role.

Non-Repudiation is like signing a contract with a pen that leaves an indelible mark, ensuring you cannot deny having signed it later.