Information security This article will not attempt to provide a comprehensive history of the field of information security, rather it will suffice to describe the earliest roots and key developments of what is now known as information security. Since the
early days of writing, heads of state and military commanders understood that it was necessary to provide some mechanism to protect the confidentiality of written correspondence and to have some means of detecting tampering. Persons desiring secure communications have used seals and other sealing devices since the early days of writing to signify the authenticity of documents, prevent tampering, and ensure confidentiality of correspondence.Julius Caesar is credited with the invention of the . to prevent his secret messages from being read should a message fall into the wrong hands. World War II brought about many
advancements in information security and may mark the beginning of information security as a professional field.I saw advancements in the physical protection of information with barricades and armed guards controlling access into information centers. It also saw the introduction of formalized classification of
data based upon the sensitivity of the information and who could have access to the information
The end of the 20th century and early years of the 21st century saw
rapid advancements in <
>, computing hardware and software, and data. The availability of smaller, more powerful and less expensive computing equipment made within the reach of small business and the home user. These computers quickly became interconnected through a network generically called the Internet. The rapid growth and wide spread use of electronic data processing and electronic business conducted through the Internet, along with numerous occurrences of terrorism, fueled the need for better methods of protecting these computers and the information they store, process and transmit. The academic disciplines of computer security, information security and information assurance emerged along with numerous professional organizations - all sharing the common goals of
insuring the security and reliability of information systems.