Information security (infosec) is the discipline of protecting information-digital or physical-from unauthorised access, alteration, or destruction.
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Information Security Definition
Information security, also known as infosec, is the discipline of protecting information from unauthorised misuse so that it remains confidential, accurate, and available. In short, information security aims to keep digital and physical data safe.
Information security is not limited to defending against hackers. It covers the full spectrum of protecting data—whether stored in cloud systems, transmitted over networks, or kept in physical files. This discipline combines technical safeguards such as encryption and firewalls with organisational practices like governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). By addressing a range of threats, information security supports everything from personal privacy to global business operations.
Why is Information Security Important?
Information security is important to businesses and modern society alike by protecting our rights to privacy along with the data that underpins daily operations and stability.
In the business context, every organisation today depends on secure information to operate: customer details, financial records, employee data, intellectual property, and more. Without adequate protection, this information becomes a target for attackers, competitors, and even insider threats.
Likewise, personal information such as banking details, medical records, online accounts, and even social media profiles is at risk without information security.
Consequences of Inadequete Information Security
Data breaches: When confidential information is exposed, the data breach rarely ends with technical cleanup. Legal actions, regulator scrutiny, and loss of customer trust can extend the damage for years.
Financial losses: Fraud, theft, and ransomware payments drain budgets and disrupt business planning. Even when insurance offsets some of the costs, recovery efforts consume time and resources.
Regulatory penalties: Regulations such as the EU’s GDPR and the UK’s Data Protection Act 2018 impose strict requirements for safeguarding personal information. Non-compliance can result in fines in the millions.
Reputation damage: Trust once lost is hard to regain. Customers, partners, and investors may all distance themselves from organisations with a history of poor security.
Principles of Information Security
The principles of information security provide the foundation for how organisations and individuals protect data, defining what security means in practice. These principles are applied daily in every organisation, from hospitals protecting patient records to banks securing transaction data. They set the expectations for how data should be handled, who should have access, and what must happen if systems are disrupted.
At their core, the information security principles are mainly centred on three things:
Ensuring data is only seen by authorised people.
Keeping data accurate and unaltered.
Making data and systems available when needed.
This model is commonly known as the CIA triad, which has become the global benchmark for defining information security.
CIA: Information Security Meaning
The CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) is the foundation of information security. It offers a practical way to measure whether systems and data are secure. Each element has distinct meaning in practice.
Confidentiality in Cyber Security
Confidentiality means that only those with the right authorisation should be able to access sensitive information. In healthcare data security, for instance, only the treating doctor and authorised staff should be able to view a patient’s medical file. Breaches of confidentiality often occur through phishing, insider leaks, or poor access controls.
Integrity in Cyber Security
Integrity ensures that information remains correct and unaltered. It prevents tampering with financial records, manipulation of system logs, or corruption of research data. For example, if a ransomware attack modifies or deletes key business files, the integrity of those records is compromised—even if backups restore availability later.
Availability in Cybersecurity
Availability in information security means that authorised users can access the data and systems they need, when they need them. A denial-of-service attack that makes an e-commerce site unavailable directly undermines this principle. The WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017, which disrupted the UK’s NHS, is a classic case of availability failure: critical medical services could not operate because systems were locked.
Information Security vs Cybersecurity
While it is often used interchangeably with cybersecurity, information security has a broader scope. Cybersecurity primarily addresses protection from digital attacks, while information security also includes policies, governance, and physical safeguards that protect data in any form.
Aspect
Information Security (Infosec)
Cybersecurity
Focus
Protecting all forms of information (digital + physical)
Protecting digital systems, networks, and applications
Scope
Confidentiality, integrity, and availability
Defence against cyber threats such as malware, phishing, ransomware
Example
Preventing insider leaks of sensitive data
Blocking ransomware campaigns targeting corporate networks
The distinction matters for risk management. Cybersecurity solutions address many digital threats, but a complete information security strategy must also account for compliance, governance, and physical access controls.
Common Information Security Threats
Threats to information security come from both external attackers and internal risks. The most prevalent include:
Phishing: Attackers impersonate trusted entities to steal login credentials or trick employees into transferring funds.
Ransomware: Criminals encrypt files and demand payment for decryption. Groups like LockBit and Clop have extorted millions from global companies.
Supply chain attacks: Compromising a third-party provider to infiltrate target organisations.
Insider threats: Employees or contractors with access misuse their privileges.
Each threat links back to the CIA triad: phishing often breaches confidentiality, ransomware impacts both integrity and availability. Insider threats can strike all three at once.
Information Security Risk Management
Information security risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to information assets. Organisations use structured frameworks like ISO 27001 or the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to guide these efforts.
The steps typically include:
Identifying threats — such as phishing, insider misuse, or unpatched software.
Assessing risk — considering both likelihood and impact.
Applying controls — technical measures like encryption, and procedural measures like training.
Reviewing effectiveness — updating plans as threats evolve.
Examples of key information security key include:
Identity and Access Management (IAM) to restrict data access.
Endpoint protection to defend devices.
Encryption for sensitive data at rest and in transit.
Incident response planning to reduce recovery time.
Risk management is not static. It must adapt to new technologies, such as cloud migration or AI-driven threats, to remain effective.
Building an Information Security Strategy
A robust information security management system (ISMS) brings policies, processes, and technologies together into a unified strategy. Its components include:
Governance: Establishing security policies, assigning accountability, and defining roles.
Compliance: Meeting requirements under regulations like GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act.
Culture: Training employees to recognise phishing attempts and follow secure practices.
Technology: Implementing layered defences across networks, endpoints, and cloud environments.
Modern strategies often incorporate Zero Trust, which assumes no user or device should be trusted by default. Every access request must be verified, minimising opportunities for attackers who gain initial entry.
Information Security Systems and Technologies
Technology underpins every information security programme. Common systems include:
Firewalls: Controlling network traffic to block malicious access.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): Identifying and stopping suspicious activity.
SIEM: Collecting and analysing logs across systems to spot threats.
SOAR: Automating responses to common incidents.
Cloud security platforms: Protecting workloads in cloud environments.
No single system is sufficient. Effective protection relies on layering multiple defences so that if one fails, others still protect the organisation. This “defence in depth” strategy is now standard practice across industries.
Trend Micro Information Security Solutions
To meet these challenges, Trend Micro provides solutions that align with the CIA principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, including:
Endpoint Security to protect devices.
XDR Detection and Response to correlate threats across email, endpoints, and networks.
Hybrid Cloud Security to safeguard modern infrastructure.
These technologies, combined with policies and training, help organisations reduce information security risk, maintain compliance, and protect their reputation.
Unify Information Security with Trend Micro Vision One™
Building effective information security requires visibility, speed, and coordination across every layer of the organisation. Converging endpoint, email, network, and cloud security, Trend Micro Vision One™ helps businesses spot information security threats from one place.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
What is information security?
Information security is the practice of protecting information - digital or physical - from unauthorised access, alteration, or destruction.
What is infosec?
Infosec is a common abbreviation for information security, covering the principles, processes, and technologies used to safeguard data.
Why is information security important?
It protects data from breaches, reduces financial and reputational risks, and ensures compliance with regulations like GDPR.
What are the principles of information security?
- The principles are confidentiality, integrity, and availability—commonly known as the CIA triad.
What is the CIA triad meaning in cyber security?
- The CIA triad defines how to secure data: confidentiality restricts access, integrity ensures accuracy, and availability guarantees access when needed.
What is the difference between information security and cybersecurity?
- Information security is broader, covering all forms of data protection, while cybersecurity focuses on defending digital systems and networks.
What is information security risk management?
- It is the process of identifying, assessing, and reducing risks to information through controls, policies, and continuous monitoring.