The term (Information Security) is common these days, all our daily routines are related to technology, where we use our information in a way or another, either through a local network or widely. The term (Information Technology) has various definitions in technical circles. Cisco, the technology guru and one of the largest networking companies in the world, define this term “Information security, often named InfoSec, refers to the processes and tools designed and deployed to protect sensitive business information from modification, disruption, destruction, and inspection.” (Cisco). Information Security “designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of computer system data from those with malicious intentions. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability sometimes referred to as the CIA triad of information security. This triad has evolved into what commonly termed the Parkerian hexad, which includes confidentiality, possession (or control), integrity, authenticity, availability, and utility.” (Techopedia)

The importance of information security

Securing your data is as crucial as protecting your valuable assets. In our daily routine, we are using technology for our banking, using mapping systems in locomotion, or even sending a text message to our friends; every part of your information is threatening like never before! The reason is simple; your data stored in different locations, and assuring the protection standards for every single part holding this data is almost impossible.

The risk of low information security

The impact of security standards fragility can be disastrous. Let’s take Facebook scandal as an example; up to 87 million of their users’ data has been shared with a third-party. Another example is the breach which affected the Tomorrowland’s database and caused exposer of 64,000 ticket holders’ data. 

Securing the information

“So where does this leave us? Unfortunately, there is no simple or easy answer to this challenge. Security and data asset threats can only be minimized and contained” (Axelrod, Bayuk, & Schutzer, 2009)

I was one of the users who was affected by a phishing email attack. My email received a message sent by an official university’s account. I followed a link at that message and end up sharing my (username and password). That mistake won’t happen if I checked the link before following it!

Facebook and Tomorrowland’s incidents were related to the institutes’ data protection standards. But I believe the users still have their part in securing their data.

So how about your experience with information threats while using the internet? I would love to read that in the comments.

References

Cisco Systems, Inc. (n.d.). What is Information Security?
Techopedia, Inc. (2018). Information Technology (IS)
Frances, Evan. (2016, 10 April). The 5 W’s of information security
BBC. (2018). BBC, Facebook scandal ‘hit 87 million users’
NAROZNIAK, RACHEL. (2018, 4 November). Hackers obtain information of 64,000 after Tomorrowland data breach
Axelrod, C. W., Bayuk, J., & Schutzer, D. (Eds.). (2009). Enterprise information security and privacy.