Information Security Fundamentals Online Training

Information security is the collection of all the technologies and processes that go into protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access. There are other kinds of security and other ways to think about securing valuable information, but information security is specifically focused on the confidentiality, integrity and availability of digital information. Information security is an umbrella term that usually includes processes and techniques related to encryption, access controls and digital security policies.

It's generally agreed that the key fundamentals of information security are confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication and authorization. These five concepts work together so that data and information is kept protected from unwanted access, that the data is reliably (and verifiably) accurate, that users can access and use what they need, that users' identities are verified, and that the right level of access is given to the users who need it.

Different sources will categorize and explain security differently, but there are usually five types of security: physical, information, network, application, and operational. These five types can help you think about how valuable information and assets are kept secure. A little like a zooming focus on a camera, you start with the physical space and objects, then the data integrity itself, followed by the network, the apps, and finally processes and procedures.

Anyone and everyone who uses computers, networks and information that's even a little bit sensitive should take this introductory information security training. This course is as good for future network security engineers as it is for accountants who only use Excel. Everyone in an organization is equally responsible for maintaining the basics of information security, and the easiest way to fail is not to know them in the first place.

No, rather than force you to memorize specifics or learn highly specialized vocabulary for a test, this course is focused on the broad and general concepts related to information security that would be applicable in any setting. There are excellent, entry-level security certifications that you could consider after taking this information security fundamentals course, like the Security+ cert from CompTIA, Cisco's CCST Cybersecurity, or Fortinet Certified Fundamentals Cybersecurity.