What are the three elements included in the CIA triad?

The CIA triad is a fundamental model in information security that focuses on three core principles: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.

Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information is accessed only by authorized individuals, thereby protecting data from unauthorized disclosure. This is crucial for maintaining trust and compliance with regulations, ensuring that personal or sensitive data remains private and secure.

Integrity involves maintaining the accuracy and completeness of data. This principle ensures that information cannot be altered or destroyed in an unauthorized manner, thus preserving the reliability and trustworthiness of data over its lifecycle. Ensuring integrity helps organizations respond to incidents and maintain the quality of their data for decision-making processes.

Availability guarantees that information and resources are accessible to authorized users when needed. This principle highlights the importance of the infrastructure and systems being operational and functional, enabling users to retrieve and use data without unnecessary downtime. Maintaining availability is vital for business continuity and operational effectiveness.

These three elements—Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability—work together to form a robust security posture that addresses the various threats and risks organizations face in managing their information assets.