What is Information Security? A Guide Of 7 Colours

“A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit.”
-Arnold Glasow

The agathokakological digital wave brought with itself a new menace that has made data in cyberspace open to unauthorized access and this is when the hero without cape comes to the rescue with the name- information security.

Discover the 7 Colors of Information Security and Protect Your Business

Information security can be defined as the prevention of unauthorized access or alteration of the time of storing data or transferring it from one source to another. In the sky of digital transformation here are the seven rainbow bands of information security that might help you to preserve your data.  

1. Information security is different from cyber security

People often tend to interchange the usage of cyber security and information security but they are not synonymous. Cyber security is for protecting cyberspace such as data, storage sources or any form of device from cyber attack. So, It is about defending things that are vulnerable through ICT. Cyber security usually deals with cybercrimes, cyber frauds, and also law enforcement. On the other hand information security goes on with unauthorized access, disclosure alteration and turbulence.

Cyber security is handled by professionals who are trained to deal with advanced persistent threats specifically. Unlike Information security which cements the foundation of data security and people are trained to prioritize resources before eliminating the threats. 

In a nutshell one deals with the defending of data in cyberspace, while the other one deals with the security of data in general.So, Simple yet complicated. In an era when online threats are lurking over organizations like deadly pandemic, the proliferation of information security and cyber security is the need of the hour to ensure a secure environment.

2. Objectives of information security

Information Security protects systems from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration or destruction to provide:

• Integrity: It helps in defending information against improper modification or eradication and it includes non-rejection and authenticity of information. So, This keeps the data in correct order.
• Confidentiality: This helps in protecting data of high value and blocking any malicious activity.
• Availability: Ensuring anytime and reliable access of information.

Also Read: Profitable Supply Chain Management: 5 key steps to profitable supply chain management

3. Need of information security

These days, information security has become extremely crucial as many organizations find it an asset as it enables the safe operation of applications implemented on the organization’s technical systems.

• Guarding functionality
• Enabling the safe operation of applications and devices.
• Protecting the data that the organization accumulates and uses.
• Protecting technological sources in organizations.

Here the information can be biometrics, social media accounts, information in mobile phones(including credit card details) due to which the information security covers distinct sectors such as crypto currency and online forensics. 

4. Threats on information security when working from home

Learn Transformation aims at waking people to walk hand in hand with digital transformation which is both a friend and foe. The advancing technology has bright with itself jeopardy on our data.

• Social Media as a target: 

Users have got confidential information on their accounts and hackers can find it their new target. 

• Mobile Malware:  

Security geeks have warned the risk in mobile device security. These days’ users are far less concerned about this issue than they should be. 

• Third-party Entry: 

Cyber criminals prefer the path of least turbulence. And here it is.

• Ignorance of Proper Configuration: 

Companies continue to neglect the poignancy of properly configured security arrangements.

•  Not updated Security Software: 

Updating security software is a basic technology management tradition as well as an incumbent step for guarding sensitive data. But many times like the morning alarm clock the update is also snoozes. 

• Lack of Encryption:

Protecting business data in transit and at rest is a measure few companies have yet to adopt in spite of its effectiveness. So, Companies need to take digital threats more seriously. 

• Insufficient Security Facilities: 

The software is designed to send alerts when intrusion attempts occur however the alerts are only useful if someone is available to address them.

 One cannot ignore these as the companies’ lists that were digitally ruined go long.

5. What has changed in information security over time?

There have a lot of changes in information security over decades and the reason is the advancement of cyber criminals’ skills in digital transformation. So, These days, there are a lot of malwares that work to steal money or leak information. Unlike old times there are professional hacker gangs who earn loads by tormenting users and companies with their treacherous attacks. With their high efficiency, they are unlikely to catch.  Earlier companies used simple methods to stop augmentation of virus attacks in their system. But today and in the times to come they have to create much more complicated networks. 

6. Companies who faced losses due to hacking

Data breaches have affected millions of users and led rise to loss of millions of dollars across the globe. A few examples are:

• Sony- $171 million in 2011
• Citigroup- $2.7 million in 2011
• Abode- 153 million users’ records impacted in 2013. In 2016, Abode had to pay $1 million to customers.
• Canva- In May 2019
• Equifax- In July 2017
• Code Spaces
• Flexspy 
• Medstar Health 

In digital transformation, cyber space has been affected adversely not only of big MNCs but of small businesses too. 43% of attacks are aimed at small companies and only few are capable to protect themselves.

7. Ways to deal with it

Learn transformation is there to educate the youth about cyber and information security as this the subject that can no longer be ignored.

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Default encryption is the conventional security measure. Now, most of the devices be it phones, computers or O.S. have an in-built encryption. There are two factor authentications with passwords. Despite of all the measures hackers slip into unauthorized territory and get away with clean hands. The intensity of crimes has increased exponentially and same increase is needed in security. 

The light is that more managed service providers (MSPs) have taken notice of issue and begun to offer specialized security services. With the availability of both cloud-managed and the managed security service providers (MSSPs) to cater them, company type security had never been as simple and efficient for enterprises as it is in 2020 and will be even more upgraded in 2021. With ongoing security skills’ dearth, companies of all varieties and sizes might get into with MSSPs to cater their security insufficiency. Furthermore, more youth is captivated to information security with its varying opportunities in digital transformation. 

The defenses will take over these hackers and they will one day make cyberspace a much safer place. Things have turned out badly but we will not let any turbulence stop our path. In future we might build a strong cyber security army.

Key Takeaways

So this gives a synopsis about the framework and basics of information security including its comparison with cyber security, objectives, needs, threats, evolution through decades, companies who were affected by it and the ways to deal with it. Hope it helped you.

FAQs

Key Takeaways

• Concerns including confidentiality, integrity, availability, authenticity, accountability, non-repudiation, and compliance are covered by the seven colours of information security.
• A well-rounded strategy is needed for information security, taking into account issues with compliance, technology, procedures, and people.
• Protecting sensitive information and preventing security breaches require the implementation of strong security measures and the promotion of a security-conscious culture.