Asset (computer security)
{{short description|Data, device, or other component of a computing environment}}
{{other uses|Asset (disambiguation)}}
In information security, computer security and network security, an asset is any data, device, or other component of the environment that supports information-related activities. Assets generally include hardware (e.g. servers and switches), software (e.g. mission critical applications and support systems) and confidential information.{{cite web| title=ISO/IEC 27005:2022 - Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection| url=https://www.iso.org/standard/80585.html| publisher=ISO| date=October 2022| access-date=31 December 2023}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.enisa.europa.eu/act/rm/cr/risk-management-inventory/glossary#G3 |title=ENISA Glossary |access-date=2010-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229151151/http://www.enisa.europa.eu/act/rm/cr/risk-management-inventory/glossary/#G3 |archive-date=2012-02-29 |url-status=dead }} Assets should be protected from illicit access, use, disclosure, alteration, destruction, and/or theft, resulting in loss to the organization.[http://www.riskmanagementinsight.com/media/docs/FAIR_introduction.pdf "An Introduction to Factor Analysis of Information Risk (FAIR)", Risk Management Insight LLC, November 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118061526/http://www.riskmanagementinsight.com/media/docs/FAIR_introduction.pdf |date=2014-11-18 }};
The CIA triad
The goal of information security is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability (CIA) of assets from various threats. For example, a hacker might attack a system in order to steal credit card numbers by exploiting a vulnerability. Information Security experts must assess the likely impact of an attack and employ appropriate countermeasures.IETF {{IETF RFC|2828}} In this case they might put up a firewall and encrypt their credit card numbers.
Risk analysis
When performing risk assessment, it is important to weigh how much to spend protecting each asset against the cost of losing the asset. It is also important to take into account the chance of each loss occurring. Intangible costs must also be factored in. If a hacker makes a copy of all a company's credit card numbers it does not cost them anything directly but the loss in fines and reputation can be enormous.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110726055502/http://fismapedia.org/index.php?title=Term%3AAsset FISMApedia TERM]}}
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