What does confidentiality primarily aim to protect?

Confidentiality primarily aims to protect the privacy of sensitive information. This means ensuring that information is accessed only by individuals who are authorized to do so, thus safeguarding personal data, trade secrets, and any classified or sensitive data from unauthorized access or disclosure.

In the context of information security, confidentiality is one of the core principles that underpin effective security management. By implementing controls, such as encryption, access controls, and security policies, organizations work to maintain the secrecy and protection of sensitive information from external threats and internal breaches.

While integrity involves maintaining the accuracy and completeness of information, and availability ensures that information is accessible when needed, confidentiality specifically targets the need to keep information private. Compliance with legal standards is also relevant, but it focuses more on adhering to laws and regulations rather than the direct protection of confidentiality itself.