The CIA Triad: Core Principles of Cybersecurity

The CIA Triad

Three pillars define information security:

Confidentiality

• “Keep it secret.”
• Ensures data is only accessible to authorized parties.
• Tools: Encryption, access controls, RBAC.

Integrity

• “Keep it accurate.”
• Prevents unauthorized tampering or corruption.
• Tools: Checksums, digital signatures, versioning.

Availability

• “Keep it accessible.”
• Guarantees systems/data are available when needed.
• Tools: Backups, redundancy, DDoS protection.

Why It Matters

Every cyberattack targets at least one leg of the triad:

• Ransomware → Attacks availability.
• Data breaches → Violate confidentiality.
• Tampering → Compromises integrity.

🧠 Visual Summary