The practice of ensuring data is only accessible to those authorized is known as what?

The practice of ensuring that data is only accessible to those who are authorized is known as confidentiality. This principle is a fundamental concept in information security and is vital for protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access, ensuring that only individuals with the appropriate permissions can view or interact with that data.

Confidentiality aims to prevent disclosure of information to individuals not permitted to access it, thus maintaining the privacy of sensitive information. This is typically enforced through various controls such as encryption, access controls, and policies that govern who can access specific data.

Integrity, on the other hand, refers to the accuracy and trustworthiness of data, ensuring that it has not been altered or tampered with without authorization. Availability concerns ensuring that information and resources are accessible to authorized users when needed. Authentication involves verifying the identity of an individual before granting access to data or systems, which is a critical part of maintaining confidentiality, but it does not directly encompass the concept of limiting data access to authorized users.