The CIA triad is a fundamental model in cybersecurity that consists of three core principles: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. Let’s explore each component and then tie them together in a broader cyber attack scenario.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality refers to protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access or disclosure. It ensures that data is only accessible to those who have the right to view it.
Examples:
- Encryption of sensitive data
- Multi-factor authentication
- Access control lists
In practice, confidentiality might involve using strong passwords, implementing role-based access controls, or encrypting data both in transit and at rest.
Integrity
Integrity ensures that data remains accurate, complete, and unaltered throughout its lifecycle1. It guarantees that information can be trusted and has not been tampered with by unauthorized parties.
Examples:
- Digital signatures
- Checksums
- Version control systems
Integrity measures might include using hash functions to verify file integrity or implementing strict change management processes.
Availability
Availability ensures that authorized users can access information and systems when needed1. It involves maintaining hardware, performing timely software updates, and creating data backups.
Examples:
- Redundant systems
- Disaster recovery plans
- Load balancing
Availability measures could include implementing failover systems, regular data backups, or using content delivery networks (CDNs) to ensure consistent access.
Uniting the CIA Triad: A Cyber Attack Scenario
Imagine a large financial institution, GlobBank, that handles millions of transactions daily. GlobBank implements the CIA triad principles to protect its systems and customer data.One day, a sophisticated hacking group launches a multi-pronged attack on GlobBank:
- Confidentiality Breach: The attackers exploit a vulnerability in GlobBank’s customer portal, gaining unauthorized access to encrypted customer data. They attempt to decrypt this information to steal personal and financial details.
- Integrity Attack: Simultaneously, the hackers inject malicious code into GlobBank’s transaction processing system, attempting to alter transaction amounts and destinations.
- Availability Disruption: As a smokescreen, the attackers launch a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on GlobBank’s servers, aiming to overwhelm them and disrupt services.
GlobBank’s cybersecurity team springs into action:
- To address the confidentiality breach, they immediately revoke compromised access credentials and initiate a forced password reset for all users.
- To maintain integrity, they activate their blockchain-based transaction verification system, which quickly identifies and isolates the tampered transactions.
- To ensure availability, they activate their redundant servers and employ their DDoS mitigation tools to filter out the malicious traffic.
Thanks to GlobBank’s robust implementation of the CIA triad principles, they successfully thwart the attack:
- The encrypted data remains unreadable to the attackers, protecting customer confidentiality.
- The blockchain system prevents any fraudulent transactions from being processed, maintaining data integrity.
- The redundant systems and DDoS mitigation tools keep services running, ensuring availability for legitimate users.
This scenario illustrates how the CIA triad works together to provide comprehensive protection against various types of cyber threats. By focusing on these three key areas, organizations can build a strong foundation for their cybersecurity strategy, enabling them to respond effectively to complex, multi-faceted attacks
