ISSC452 W1: Cybersecurity Fundamentals | Disc Peer Response| Alfred

Good Evening Class,

When we think about the security of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), three main elements come into play: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Each of these plays a vital role in ensuring that our financial transactions are safe, reliable, and secure.

First up is confidentiality. This is all about keeping our personal and financial details private. When we use an ATM, we input sensitive data like our PIN and account number. It is vital that this information is kept secret, accessible only to us and the bank. If this data were exposed, it could lead to identity theft or unauthorized access to our funds. So, confidentiality is about protecting our information from prying eyes and ensuring that our financial privacy is upheld.

Next is integrity. This principle ensures that the information processed by the ATM is accurate and unchanged. When we make a transaction, like withdrawing cash or checking our balance, we trust the ATM to process our requests correctly and show us accurate account information. If there is any tampering or change of data, it could mean serious trouble, like incorrect balances or unauthorized transactions appearing on our statements. Therefore, maintaining the integrity of data is essential for trust in the banking system and for ensuring that our financial records are exact and tamper proof.

Lastly, we have availability. This means that ATM services need to be up and running whenever we need them. Imagine needing cash urgently, only to find the nearest ATM out of service. Frustrating, right? Availability ensures that ATMs are operational, secure, and ready to serve our banking needs at all times, providing us with reliable access to our money and account information.

While each of these security aspects: confidentiality, integrity, and availability is critical on its own, they work together to create a secure and trustworthy ATM experience, protecting our financial activities and information against numerous threats and vulnerabilities.