| Information Security |
Article Index for Information Security |
Articles about Information Security |
Website Links For Information Security |
Information AboutInformation Security |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT INFORMATION SECURITY | |
| data security | |
| computer security | |
|
Information security is the process of protecting data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, destruction, modification, or disruption. 44 U.S.C § 3542 (b)(1) (2006) The terms information security, Computer Security and Information Assurance are frequently used interchangeably. These fields are interrelated and share the common goals of protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information; however, there are some subtle differences between them. These differences lie primarily in the approach to the subject, the methodologies used, and the areas of concentration. Information security is concerned with the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data regardless of the form the data may take: electronic, print, or other forms. Heads of state and military commanders have long understood the importance and necessity of protecting information about their military capabilities, number of troops and troop movements. Such information falling into the hands of the enemy could be disastrous. Governments, military, financial institutions, hospitals, and private businesses amass a great deal of confidential information about their employees, customers, products, research, and financial status. Most of this information is now collected, processed and stored on electronic computers and transmitted across networks to other computers. Should confidential information about a businesses customers or finances or new product line fall into the hands of a competitor, such a breach of security could lead to lost business, law suits or even bankruptcy of the business. Protecting confidential information is a business requirement, and in many cases also an ethical and legal requirement. For the individual, information security has a significant effect on Privacy , which is viewed very differently in different cultures. The field of information security has grown and evolved significantly in recent years. As a career choice there are many ways of gaining entry into the field. It offers many areas for specialization including Information Systems Auditing, Business Continuity Planning and Digital Forensics Science, to name a few. This article presents a general overview of information security and its core concepts. A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFORMATION SECURITY This article will not attempt to provide a comprehensive history of the field of information security, rather it will suffice to describe the earliest roots and key developments of what is now known as information security. Since the early days of writing, heads of state and military commanders understood that it was necessary to provide some mechanism to protect the confidentiality of written correspondence and to have some means of detecting tampering. Persons desiring secure communications have used Wax Seals and other sealing devices since the early days of writing to signify the authenticity of documents, prevent tampering, and ensure confidentiality of correspondence. Julius Caesar is credited with the invention of the Caesar Cipher c50 B.C. to prevent his secret messages from being read should a message fall into the wrong hands. |
|
|