The Foundations and Evolution of the CIA Triad in Cybersecurity
The CIA triad, consisting of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability, is a foundational model
guiding information security policies within organizations. Confidentiality involves restricting
access to sensitive information, integrity ensures data accuracy and trustworthiness, and
availability ensures reliable access for authorized parties. The triad is crucial in cybersecurity,
guiding the development of security policies and helping organizations assess new technologies

Confidentiality involves restricting access to sensitive information to prevent unauthorized
access. Examples of this include encryption which is a common method to ensure confidentiality.
For instance, when banking online, requiring an account number or routing number is a
confidentiality measure. Data encryption is also widely used to protect information during
transmission.

Integrity ensures the consistency, accuracy, and trustworthiness of data throughout its lifecycle,
preventing unauthorized alteration. An example of this would be file permissions, user access
controls, and version control are measures to maintain data integrity. Cryptographic checksums
can be employed for verification, and digital signatures can provide nonrepudiation measures.

Availability guarantees that information is consistently and readily accessible to authorized
parties. For example, rigorous maintenance of hardware, immediate hardware repairs, and a
properly functioning operating system are essential for ensuring availability. Redundancy,
failover, and disaster recovery plans help mitigate consequences when hardware issues occur.

Differences between Authentication and Authorization

Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user, system, or device. When a user
logs into a computer system, they typically provide a username and password. Multi-factor
authentication (MFA) is an enhanced method that requires two or more authentication factors,
such as a password and a unique code sent to a mobile device. Whereas Authorization determines
what actions or resources a verified user is allowed to access or perform. After a user has
successfully authenticated, authorization comes into play. For instance, an employee may be
authorized to access certain files or databases but not others. Authorization is about granting
appropriate permissions based on the user’s identity.

In summary, the CIA Triad emphasizes the principles of Confidentiality, Integrity, and
Availability, while Authentication and Authorization are distinct but interconnected concepts in
ensuring secure access and usage of information within a system.