Confidentiality is one of the three quality attributes of data according to the CIA triad of information security and means that only authorized persons have access to the information. Maintaining confidentiality consists in the fact that information should be accessible only to those who are authorized to read it, and therefore it is necessary to prevent access to unauthorized persons. Confidentiality refers to protecting information from unauthorized access.
- Assured confidentiality protects information from unauthorized access and ensuring privacy
- Assured confidentiality prevents misuse of data or information
- Breached confidentiality means that someone unauthorized has access to her data
- Breached confidentiality may lead to misuse of data or information
It is not enough to ensure the confidentiality of data, it must also be available and integral (not corrupted).
What are Basic Steps to Protect Data Confidentiality in Small and Medium Businesses
To keep your data confidential, it's important to prevent unauthorized changes to your systems and information.
- Managing user permissions carefully, especially when employees join or leave the company
- Securing physical access to workspaces and devices
- Encrypting sensitive data
- Regularly backing up data
- Securing data during transmission and protecting communications