Fundamentals of Information Security

By Sanil Nadkarni

The book starts by introducing the fundamentals of Information Security. You will deep dive into the concepts and domains within Information Security and will explore the different roles in Cybersecurity industry. The book includes a roadmap for a technical and non-technical student who want to make a career in Information Security. You will also understand the requirement, skill and competency required for each role. The book will help you sharpen your soft skills required in the Information Security domain. The book will help you with ways and means to apply for jobs and will share tips and tricks to crack the interview.

This is a practical guide will help you build a successful career in Information Security.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BPB Online LLP
• Release date: Nov 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9789389328417

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Introduction to Information Security

Any informed borrower is simply less vulnerable to fraud and abuse.

- Alan Greenspan

Like everyone else, Anuj was very happy to surprise his parents on their 25th wedding anniversary. Coming from a middle-class family, possessing your own car is almost like a fantasy fulfilled. Anuj’s dad forever desired to possess his own car. But, weighed down with responsibilities, it seemed unlikely for him. Anuj knew just what he had to do. Procuring a new car did not seem to fit his pocket, so he decided to strike a pre-owned car online. While browsing through many online sites he stumbled upon an advertisement link. To his astonishment, the deal proposed an SUV car for only Rs. 100,000! Anuj could not keep himself and clicked on the link. No sooner had he clicked the link; he received an SMS stating that Rupees 1 lac had been transacted from his account. Before he could even perceive, his computer was hacked, and he was cheated out of his hard-earned cash. The police further said the incidence could have been avoided if he was aware and educated about cyber-crimes.

This is just one of the many incidents that happen every day. Read on to know more about information security and how to stay protected amidst a myriad of threats that lurk online.

Introduction to information security

I am sure you must have heard stories from your grandparents, gloating about how they maintained and safeguarded their documents. But, to our astonishment, long gone are those days when all our data was sheltered using traditional means. As we dwell in the 21st century, we have finally decided to pull our stakes and hold all our confidential data online. If we look closely, today more than 99% of the data and the organizations which hold it in a unified and compact manner are driven online.

But amidst this, is our crucial data really safe from outsider threats?

Every single modern-day business stores its data on servers, laptops, desktops, or any other crack or crevice on the internet. Regardless of the fact if you are a budding entrepreneur, holder of an MNC, or just any Tom, Dick, and Harry using the internet and its worldly privileges, securing, and safeguarding your data from black hats is extremely important.

If you want to keep away from being a sufferer and if you set your heart on educating yourself about information security, then today salvation has come your way through my book. In this chapter, we are going to see the importance of privacy, confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data in information security and why it is such a huge thing.

Structure

In this chapter, we will discuss the following topics:

Comprehend the essence of information security

What key principles drive information security?

Why is information security the need of the hour?

Objectives

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

Understand the different facets of information security

Comprehend what motivates people to take up information security

Gain some insight into cyber crimes

What is information security?

The way the motto of human life is larger than emotional fulfillment, peace of mind, or even pleasure, similarly, the term information security was born with the purpose of shielding our intellectual and confidential data. And this pivotal purpose is served by safeguarding the crucial data of any organization from all sorts of unsolicited access, vulnerabilities, malicious usage, exposure, breach, embezzlement, tempering, split, etc. Not just this, information security also aims at reducing the high gradient of risks generated through threats.

The supreme motto of information security is to practice values such as confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data, all the while fighting and resisting any malignancy which will crop up in the way and pose information risk.

Have you ever wondered about the relevance of information security in the 21st century and the digital world?

If not, let me walk you through