Data Protection and Security

I

Introduction to Information Security

I.I

Definitions

Information Security

As the name of this course implies, our main focus will be on information (data) security especially when the information is in a digital format. Only with the advances in the information and communication technologies, “information” became one of the most valuable assets we do have. As its value increases, threats and attacks against information get also improved and increased which then triggered the importance of and interest in the topic of “information security”.

Our discussion will cover both

1. when the information is processed and stored in computer systems in isolation ( computer security)
2. when the information is transmitted between networked systems ( network security)

We note that because of the universal connectivity Internet has brought, the distinction between these two terms has been blurred and no longer strictly necessary.