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A question I commonly see when individuals are trying to break into the Cybersecurity industry is: What do I need to understand to be successful and make it?
My response has always been to start at the CIA Triad (also referred to as the CIA Triad Principles). The Triad is a strong fundamental approach on how we handle and protect data, systems or other valuable assets. The CIA Triad stands for Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability. Think of it as part of an equilateral triangle where all sides are equal and no one principle is more important than the other. It only takes one side to fall in order for the contents inside the triangle to be exploited.
As you progress in your cybersecurity journey, you will often refer back to these principles to determine how an asset can be better protected or risk better mitigated. Let’s dive in further into the CIA Triad security model.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality (privacy) is assuring the correct person(s) have access to the material or data while it is in-transit, at-rest or processing. This can be achieved by a variety of primary controls including: Two-Factor/Multifactor Authentication (2FA/MFA), Encryption, Access Controls, Classification, Watermarking and more.
What are the threats to Confidentiality?
Things that threatened confidentiality include (but are not limited to): Human Error, Weak Passwords, Lack of Strong Encryptions. Eavesdropping (including Dumpster Diving) and Insider Threats.
Integrity
Integrity is assuring that the data or systems cannot be altered or destroy by unauthorized person(s). This can be achieved by a variety of primary controls including (but not limited to): Hashing, Auditing, Setting File Permissions, Backups and Message Digests.
What are the threats to Integrity?
Things that threatened Integrity include (but are not limited to): Data Diddling, Human Error, Vulnerable Software, Insider Threat and Ransomware.
Availability
Availability is assuring that the data can be accessed by authorized person(s) whenever requested. This can be achieved by a variety of primary controls including (but not limited to): Firewalls, Load Balancers, Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS), Business Continuity Plan and Disaster Recovery Plan (BCP/DR) and Backups.
What are the threats to Availability?
Things that threatened Availability include (but are not limited to): Human Error, Default Passwords (on security appliances), Power Outages, Natural Disasters, Ransomware and Insider Threats.
Below is a more in-depth video of the CIA Triad. It will cover things in greater depth as well as a few extra tips that are not outlined on this blog.
EXAM TIP: When studying, I find it useful to approach question sets by asking yourself where it lies on the CIA Triad. This will give you a strong hint as to what answer you should be looking for. For instance, if the question is talking about DDOS mitigations, the question is likely referencing Availability. You want to make sure the responses line up with ensuring the information is available when it needs to be (i.e. Load Balancers, Firewalls, Backups). It wouldn’t make much sense to apply a Confidentiality control like watermarking to ensure Service Level Agreements (SLA).
Be sure to have a firm grasp on the CIA Triad and if you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to me.
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