What is information security?
Corporate systems and users’ personal information are vulnerable to various threats: data can be altered or deleted as a result of technical failures or cyberattacks.
Information security (InfoSec) is a state of systems in which elements of its infrastructure, such as equipment, data transmission channels, and data storage, are resistant to external and internal threats.
For example, customer and order data or financial statements are vital to a company. If they fall into the hands of competitors or are corrupted, distorted, deleted, or destroyed, this will have negative consequences. Losing a customer base will impact profits: the information cannot be used for repeat sales and marketing. Financial statements may be requested by government agencies for audit, and their absence will lead to fines or other sanctions.
Users’ personal information—bank card numbers, contact information, or doctor’s appointment information—is also at risk. The data storage systems of websites where this information is stored, or users’ personal accounts, can be hacked. Cybercriminals can use this data to apply for loans in the user’s name or sell their contacts and personal information to third parties.
Information security is also a field of knowledge and a professional field. Information security specialists, or IS specialists, study system vulnerabilities and seek ways to improve their resilience to threats.
For users, maintaining information security can be considered a useful skill that helps prevent them from becoming victims of cyberattacks.
However, it’s important to distinguish between the concepts of cybersecurity and information security. Cybersecurity involves protecting digital information from theft online. Information security includes methods for protecting information stored on various media—cloud storage, servers, and regular paper.
To successfully combat information security threats, information security specialists must not only understand the types of threats and methods of protection against them but also master certain development and data analysis skills. In the “Information Security Specialist” course, students learn to test web applications for vulnerabilities and write secure code.
Principles of information security
Information security is based on three principles:
1. Confidentiality:
Information must be protected from unauthorized access. For example, accessing corporate systems from a personal computer compromises the confidentiality of corporate information. Similarly, disclosing internal company processes during an interview at another organization can be dangerous. Therefore, many companies only allow the use of internal software from work computers, and employees often sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
2. Integrity:
Information should not be changed without its owner’s permission. For example, only the account owner can change the password. To protect the account from hacking, use two-factor authentication—additional confirmation of actions via phone or SMS.
To protect the integrity of corporate information, each user should have access only to the data they need for their work. For example, only an analyst or data engineer can administer the company’s customer database. Technical support staff should only have access to view contacts and order history.
3. Availability:
Employees with authorized access to information can access it to complete work tasks. However, situations where access is suddenly lost must be prevented. For example, if a technical failure or cyberattack on the system prevents sales managers from logging into the company’s CRM system.
Objectives and types of threats
The goal of information security threats is to gain access to personal and corporate data. The theft or damage of this data can negatively impact people’s lives and companies’ operations.
For example, if criminals gain access to information about a user’s family, they can use it to commit fraud: by pretending to be a relative, they can trick the user into transferring money to the attacker’s account.
Important corporate information can also be stolen and used for personal gain, such as selling partner data to competitors.
Accidental or intentional data corruption or destruction can disrupt a company’s operations and create inconvenience for users. For example, if a technical glitch on the marketplace results in the loss of new order data, warehouse staff will be unable to collect and ship it to customers.
There are three main types of information security threats:
1. Unauthorized Access
Computer systems, networks, or data may be accessed by cybercriminals or users without authorized access.
For example, an employee accidentally logs into the HR program due to a bug in the corporate system. This will give them access to the personal files of their managers and colleagues. Or, criminals hack a user’s email account and gain access to their accounts on various services.
2.
Data Integrity: Data integrity means that information remains unchanged and accurate. A data integrity threat is the possibility of accidental or intentional modification or deletion of data without the permission of its creator or owner.
Data can be altered or deleted by company employees through carelessness, malware, or hackers. This can also happen as a result of a technical glitch. Attackers who gain access to the website’s administration can change prices for goods or services. Sales managers will be unable to confirm orders at incorrect prices, and customers will lose trust in the company and stop using its services. This leads to financial losses.
3. Information Disclosure:
This type of information security threat involves the leak and dissemination of sensitive information that should remain confidential. For example, disclosure of partner information could lead to a loss of a company’s reputation, the development details of a new product could lead to it being copied by competitors, and the script of a new film could lead to a loss of audiences and box office revenue.
According to the latest 2026 strategic forecasts from Statista.com, global enterprises continue to navigate a volatile digital landscape where information security threats have evolved in both sophistication and frequency. While the foundational threats identified in 2023 persist, 2026 data indicate a significant shift toward automated and AI-driven exploitations.
Current analysis identifies the following as the primary vectors for global security breaches:
AI-Enhanced Business Email Compromise (BEC): Surpassing traditional phishing, this remains the most financially damaging threat. Attackers now use generative AI to perfectly mimic the tone and style of corporate executives, leading to unprecedented levels of unauthorized fund transfers and data leaks.
Autonomous and Triple-Extortion Ransomware: Ransomware has shifted from simple data encryption to a “triple-extortion” model. Not only is access to information blocked, but sensitive data is threatened with public release, and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are launched against the company’s clients until a ransom is paid.
Vulnerabilities in Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Management Interfaces: As companies move toward decentralized infrastructures, the interfaces managing cloud data have become the primary targets. Exploits focusing on Misconfigured Cloud Storage and API (Application Programming Interface) vulnerabilities represent the fastest-growing segment of corporate security incidents this year.
Emerging Trends (2026 Update)
Beyond the top three, Statista’s 2026 report highlights a surge in Supply Chain Interdiction, where attackers target a single software vendor to gain “backdoor” access to thousands of downstream global companies simultaneously.
Additionally, Quantum-Resistant Cryptography has moved from a theoretical concern to a practical necessity, as firms begin upgrading their data management interfaces to protect against the rising capabilities of advanced computing threats.
Information security tools
To protect information, companies and users use various tools and means. Let’s break them down into the main types:
● Technical means
These are equipment and methods for protecting information that physically restrict access to it. For example, special devices that block the internet signal in a meeting room, a lock and alarm that block access to the server room or paper document archive, or a password on a phone that prevents an intruder from accessing the data if the device is stolen.
● Software that can detect and prevent threats to digital data security. This includes, among other things, antivirus programs or intrusion detection and prevention programs. Such programs detect and block abnormal traffic activity, such as authorizations into a corporate system from another country.
Software-based data protection methods also include encryption technologies. They convert data into a character set that cannot be decrypted without keys. This protects information from disclosure in the event of a leak.
● Organizational measures
Measures taken by company management. For example, developing a corporate security policy and monitoring its compliance, training employees, and signing an NDA upon hiring.
When it comes to protecting personal information, organizational measures include information hygiene rules both online and in real life. For example, avoid clicking suspicious links, don’t leave gadgets unattended in public places, and use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi in cafes.
Information security technologies
Let’s list some modern technologies for information protection that are related to software:
Cryptography is a technology used to transform data, encrypting it using special keys or methods. Cryptographic methods are used, for example, by government agencies to create digital signatures, banks for money transfers, and users when accessing the internet using a VPN.
Blockchain is a decentralized data storage technology. Data is divided into blocks, each linked to the previous one, thus forming a chain. Changing data in previous blocks is a resource-intensive process and, in most cases, impossible. Therefore, everything entered into the blockchain network remains unchanged forever. This method is used, for example, in healthcare, where organizations store patients’ medical records on the blockchain.
A firewall is a technology that provides a protective shield between a device and external networks. A firewall can be used, for example, to distribute traffic between devices and restrict access to certain resources. Firewalls are installed, for example, in schools to protect children from prohibited or dangerous content, or in organizations to block spam sent by potential attackers to employees’ email accounts.
IDS (short for Intrusion Detection System) is a technology for detecting intrusions. An IDS monitors network traffic or traffic within a corporate system and identifies unusual activity that indicates a possible security breach, such as attempts to hack the network or attacks on servers. An IDS can be installed at the network level or at the device level. In the first case, the system will analyze all traffic, while in the second, it will analyze only traffic passing through the device.
IPS (short for Intrusion Prevention System) is an intrusion prevention technology. Unlike IDS, it not only detects potential security threats but also takes proactive measures to protect information. For example, it automatically blocks IP addresses that attempt to hack the system. IPS detects not only external attacks but also internal ones—when an attack originates from an employee’s work computer. IPS can also scan downloaded files and prevent viruses from being installed on users’ computers.
DLP systems (short for Data Loss Prevention) are technologies that prevent information leaks. For example, they block the sending of confidential data via email or instant messaging. The system can also be used to prohibit document printing from a specific device. This feature can be activated in the event of an employee’s departure, preventing them from taking corporate information with them, either digitally or in printed form.
EDR systems (short for Endpoint Detection and Response) are a technology for detecting malicious activity on network endpoints, such as computers or smartphones. EDR monitors suspicious user activity or device hacking attempts and sends alerts to information security specialists. Essentially, EDR systems are more modern forms of antivirus software. They detect complex threats, such as corporate espionage malware, in real time. An EDR system analyzes device activity and identifies deviations from normal patterns.
UBA (short for User Behavior Analytics) is a technology that analyzes user behavior in information systems and networks to detect suspicious activity. For example, UBA can detect unauthorized access to a user’s account by analyzing deviations in their behavior. This could include logging in from another country or viewing files that the user doesn’t typically need for work. If such deviations are detected, the UBA system can block the compromised account.
