What is confidentiality in the context of cyber security?

Confidentiality in the context of cyber security specifically refers to the principle that information should only be accessible to individuals or entities that have been granted permission to view it. This means implementing measures to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data, ensuring that only authorized users can read or manipulate that information.

This concept is fundamental to various security protocols and practices, such as user authentication, role-based access controls, and data classification. By protecting the confidentiality of information, organizations can safeguard sensitive data from potential breaches, leaks, or unauthorized disclosures, thereby maintaining trust and compliance with legal or regulatory requirements.

Other options focus on different aspects of information security that, while important, do not define confidentiality. For example, accuracy and completeness pertain to data integrity, while assurance of information availability addresses availability, another core principle of cyber security. Data encryption is a method that can assist in maintaining confidentiality, but it is not a definition of confidentiality itself, as it represents just one of several tools available for achieving it.