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Security Awareness
Information security is the practice of protecting information, particularly in its elec-
tronic form, from unauthorised access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification or
destruction.
“Security is the responsibility of everyone” is a widely used phrase in information
technology these days, which reflects both the huge growth of information technology
and the risks associated with it. Thus, the importance of Confidentiality, Integrity, and
Authenticity (CIA) of information is now emphasized by both the public and private
sectors.
Awareness of the threats that may jeopardise CIA is therefore paramount, as the Euro-
pean Network and Information Security Agency points out, ‘Awareness of the risks and
available safeguards is the first line of defense for the security of information systems
and networks.’
By 2020, there will be approximately 200 billion connected devices, which shows the
size of the industry and its importance towards overall growth. Importantly, research
suggests that almost 43% security breaches happen internally, hence the importance
of security awareness. Users play a key role in the prevention of information security
breaches targeting them and their organisations.
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July 2018
DoIT Newsletter