What is the primary goal of information security?

The primary goal of information security is to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information, often referred to as the CIA triad. This framework ensures that sensitive data is kept secret (confidentiality), remains accurate and unaltered (integrity), and is accessible to authorized users when needed (availability).

By focusing on these three aspects, information security aims to protect data from unauthorized access, breaches, and other threats that could compromise its reliability and the overall security of information systems. This foundational principle is critical for organizations to maintain trust and comply with various regulatory requirements, ultimately safeguarding their assets and supporting business continuity.

While enhancing user satisfaction, improving system functionality, and reducing operational costs can be beneficial outcomes of effective information security measures, they are not the primary goal. Instead, these are secondary benefits that arise when the core objectives of protecting information are successfully met.