The transfer of information today is a serious breakthrough in the field of communication technologies. It is information exchange that allows you to quickly resolve many issues in any industry, business, and much more.
But it is worth remembering about such an element as information security, which ensures the reliable transmission of data packets, limiting possible outside interference.
What information security is aimed at
The history of the transfer of information has been going on for more than a dozen years, since the timely receipt of reliable data is the key to interaction between the parties. And the more important the information, the greater the need to protect it. This is exactly what the tasks of information security are aimed at.
In fact, the automation of most processes today is one of the reasons that require a careful approach to ensuring a safetransmission channel. The information environment is huge, but security tools track the slightest changes in the system code and attempts of unauthorized access, extraction of encrypted packages and much more.
If security measures are not used properly, the consequences can be catastrophic - loss of necessary files, infection of the working environment with viruses and unwanted software, access of unauthorized persons to confidential information, etc. The tasks of the information security system are to protect the information environment from these actions. And the more reliable the system, the lower the chance of hacking.
Goals and objects of information security
Of course, security must be provided everywhere, from user resources to government information portals. Therefore, the goals and objectives of information security are quite multifaceted and unique in their own way:
- Securing government data;
- providing ordinary users with high-quality and reliable data from various Internet resources;
- providing legal support for users in the exchange (receipt, use and transfer) of information.
There is much more subtext in these three lines, although it all boils down to the fact that each layman himself is obliged to comply with the requirements for the security of the information environment, and also to receive the same information as he transmits himself. And the tasks of information security are precisely in creating such conditions.
Objects that are targeted by security measures deserve special attention. This is:
- any available resource with information;
- global systems that create, host and distribute information over the Web;
- multiple portals that provide unique data to users (analytical and system centers that work with data, including personal data, encryptors and security software);
- news portals, including official media resources;
- legal support for users and structures that have the right to access, transfer and use various information;
- protection in the field of intellectual property and classified data (confidential information, without access by unauthorized persons).
Information threats: concept
And now, in connection with this, a reasonable question arises, and in the fight against what it is necessary to apply in practice the goals and objectives of ensuring information security?
Naturally, protection is needed from various threats that can both introduce false information into the Network, distort it, and completely disrupt the functionality of systems and steal data from them.
Information threats across the state are divided into two categories - internal and external.
The former are more global and require serious intervention, or rather, the creation of serious security tools. The latter, although pointy, are no less dangerous for most Internet users.
So here it isonly a small list of external threats to the information environment:
- penetration of spyware created by other states and aimed at stealing state secrets and technologies;
- placement and addition of negative information about the state, which leads to misinformation of the population and deterioration of its information awareness about domestic affairs.
And yet, information security tasks are more in demand to eliminate internal threats. These include:
- insufficient level of information resources;
- underdeveloped information technologies, including global projects for data exchange and transfer of packages of confidential information;
- low level of computer literacy of users, which does not allow the full operation of the information environment.
Main types of information threats
Today, all known information threats are divided into two large categories - deliberate (external interference) and accidental.
The first type is deliberate, better known as attacks on certain information resources and portals, unauthorized access followed by data modification. In most cases, external interference is carried out by a certain group of people, hackers who either fulfill someone's order (of other states, competing companies, etc.), or by users pursuing selfish interests. The main tasks of information security are the rapid identification and neutralization of the activities of this group, andalso the inadmissibility of such threats in the future.
The following actions are typical for a deliberate threat:
- seizure of data (including through copying), destruction of information packages, which leads to disruption of the information environment;
- introducing unwanted software and viruses into the Network;
- imperceptibly affecting the working equipment of systems using spyware, magnetic fields and changes in program code.
Therefore, the organization's information security objectives should be directed to:
- ensuring the invulnerability of each user's workplace;
- server security;
- Securing all external media in use;
- setting up a secure communication channel.
Combating computer viruses as the most serious type of threats
Yes, it really is. It is all kinds of virus programs that cause the most significant losses for the information infrastructure today. The problem is that antivirus software is always one step behind viruses, and security software signatures very often fail to recognize new malware. As a result - damage to information packages, interference with the operation of the PC and much more.
The only thing that really copes with such a viral "dominance" is specialized applications-utilities that detect and neutralize the action of almost all known and dangerous viruses. The only negative is the use after the fact, when unwanted software is detected. Although, as part of information security, it is necessary to regularly use these programs in order to detect such malicious software.
Information security for various users of computer systems
In most known situations, the issue of information security is solved without the participation of ordinary users. Depending on the direction of the information environment, there are types of security tools:
- auxiliary programs aimed at the individual security of a single PC;
- global protections and functions that ensure the smooth operation of the entire information array;
- separate tools to fix problems and vulnerabilities;
- heavy duty applications that secure and encrypt financial and banking ledger information.
Information security methods
In general, the tasks of ensuring information security imply the development of special methods to combat a particular threat, as well as means of protecting information packages.
Thus, information security methods should contain the following aspects:
- actual use of technical facilities (thanthe larger the information space and the number of workstations used, the stronger and more versatile the protection should be);
- maximum level of protection for the data core, the central base that starts the cycle of information exchange;
- increasing secure access to shared resources on the Internet;
- creating the latest computing processes that will have several levels of encryption that are not hackable.
In addition, you can use proven methods, including limiting the level of access to data, stable encryption of transmitted data, control and regular monitoring of database usage.
Physical protection of information systems
Finally, it is worth saying a few words about the measures of physical protection of the information environment, which, however, are also included in the tasks of information security.
We are talking about special devices that quickly recognize third-party interference in the system, as well as neutralize most of the known threats today.
So, from year to year, there is a confrontation between those who create all sorts of threats to the safe operation of systems and working information environments, and those who ensure the stable and safe operation of these very systems. And the scales fluctuate, without preponderance to either side.
