Which option is NOT listed as one of the five pillars of cyber security?

Which option is NOT listed as one of the five pillars of cyber security?

• A. Confidentiality
• B. Integrity
• C. Availability
• D. Encryption

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is recognizing what counts as a pillar versus a tool. The classic pillars describe the core security properties we want to preserve in information systems: confidentiality (keeping data secret), integrity (keeping data accurate and unaltered), and availability (ensuring data and services are accessible when needed). Some frameworks extend this to five pillars by adding elements like authentication and non-repudiation, but the emphasis remains on these properties, not on methods used to achieve them. Encryption is a cryptographic technique used to protect data, primarily to achieve confidentiality. It’s a method you apply to make information unreadable without the right key, and it can also play a role in maintaining integrity when used with hashes or digital signatures. However, it itself isn’t a pillar or a property you aim to preserve; it’s a means to reach the pillars’ goals. That’s why encryption isn’t listed as one of the pillars.

The main idea here is recognizing what counts as a pillar versus a tool. The classic pillars describe the core security properties we want to preserve in information systems: confidentiality (keeping data secret), integrity (keeping data accurate and unaltered), and availability (ensuring data and services are accessible when needed). Some frameworks extend this to five pillars by adding elements like authentication and non-repudiation, but the emphasis remains on these properties, not on methods used to achieve them.

Encryption is a cryptographic technique used to protect data, primarily to achieve confidentiality. It’s a method you apply to make information unreadable without the right key, and it can also play a role in maintaining integrity when used with hashes or digital signatures. However, it itself isn’t a pillar or a property you aim to preserve; it’s a means to reach the pillars’ goals. That’s why encryption isn’t listed as one of the pillars.