The modern business landscape hinges on technology, with organizations of all sizes across all industries harvesting data and exchanging information in order to complete their daily tasks. Rapidly advancing technology combined with the rise of intricate network security has enabled businesses to streamline tasks and boost revenue — yet vulnerabilities still exist that must be considered.
Information assurance (IA) is the solution to that increasingly complex challenge, allowing organizations to feel confident that the networks they rely on are sufficiently secure.
What Is Information Assurance?
Information assurance is defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology as the process of protecting and defending information systems. Through high-quality information assurance, organizations are able to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication and non-repudiation of information.
An information assurance professional is often tasked with implementing protection, detection and reaction capabilities into an information system or network. In addition, they work to ensure that an information system can be properly restored if compromised.
Industries That Rely on IA Professionals
Nearly every organization relies heavily on advanced computer networks to produce goods and provide services. However, certain industries are more vulnerable to cyberattacks than others. These are some of the industries that depend on the help, support and expertise of information assurance professionals:
- Government and defense – Government and military agencies exchange highly confidential information, requiring them to work closely with information assurance professionals to verify that the system is secure enough for them to communicate.
- Finance and banking – Both organizations and consumers trust their private financial data and personal information in finance and banking databases. Information assurance professionals can help organizations in the finance and banking industry ensure that the data stored in their databases is properly protected and secure — and that all fraud prevention measures are in place.
- Healthcare – Electronic health records (EHR) store vast amounts of confidential healthcare data, private personal information and financial information. This requires organizations in the healthcare industry to collaborate with IA professionals to verify that all patient records are secure and maintain compliance with HIPAA regulations.
- Technology – Naturally, the technology sector relies on advanced technology to create innovative new products and services for consumers. Information assurance professionals can work closely with technology industry organizations to help increase security and protect intellectual property stored in their databases.
Safeguarding Systems: Information Assurance Roles and Responsibilities
As a cybersecurity specialist, an information assurance professional is responsible for safeguarding information systems by proactively assessing risks, enforcing security policies, implementing data protection measures, responding to incidents and educating users. Their work plays a critical role in defending an organization against cyberattacks. By ensuring data integrity, privacy and availability in today’s digital world, information assurance analysts provide organizations and consumers with the confidence they need to take on their daily tasks.
The scope of the information assurance field is relatively broad, so the individual job responsibilities of an IA analyst may vary based on the organization for which they work. Some of the primary job responsibilities of information assurance professionals include:
Risk Assessment and Management
Risk assessment and risk management are two of the primary responsibilities of information assurance professionals. Through a risk assessment analysis, an IA analyst is able to identify vulnerabilities within an information system or network, then conduct further assessments to determine the risk level. Once risks have been properly identified, information assurance analysts often continue to develop risk mitigation strategies to prevent security breaches. They may also be tasked with implementing continuous monitoring to detect and address new risks.
Implementing Security Policies and Compliance
Due to their extensive knowledge of cybersecurity and information systems, information assurance analysts are often charged with creating and implementing information security policies and compliance initiatives for organizations. They work to ensure that organizations comply with laws and regulations that oversee the storage and exchange of digital information, as well as enforce security policies in order to adhere to the best cybersecurity practices.
Information assurance analysts conduct regular audits to assess compliance and security posture within an organization. Throughout this work, they collaborate with organizational leaders and legal teams to address compliance issues.
Protecting Data and Preventing Cyber Attacks
Information assurance professionals may have the opportunity to work closely with other cybersecurity experts to help protect data and prevent cyberattacks within an organization. To improve and reinforce cybersecurity efforts, an information security analyst may:
- Use encryption to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.
- Implement access control measures.
- Deploy antivirus solutions to enhance the protection of devices and the information network.
- Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity.
- Create secure backup systems to help ensure that a network can be properly restored if breached.
Incident Response and Disaster Recovery
In the event of a cyberattack, information assurance analysts may be called to respond to the incident and aid in the disaster recovery. Taking a proactive approach to restoration and mitigation, they often work to develop incident response plans in advance, with the hope of minimizing the amount of damage incurred from security breaches. They also conduct penetration testing to identify potential vulnerabilities and address them in advance.
Even when the most proactive steps are taken, cyberattacks can still occur. In the event of a data breach, IA analysts utilize backup and recovery solutions to restore data. They frequently coordinate with IT and cybersecurity teams during an attack to enact a comprehensive response plan that minimizes disruption and impact.
User Education and Awareness Training
In addition to working behind the scenes to protect information and verify that a network is secure, information assurance analysts work with professionals in other specialty areas to provide them with valuable information about cybersecurity. These analysts may have the opportunity to educate employees and key stakeholders on the best security practices. To this end, they may create training programs or implement security awareness initiatives that are designed to increase awareness and understanding; that way, the entire organization can work together to implement strong cybersecurity measures.
Monitoring and Threat Intelligence
Monitoring is a key component of the information assurance field, and IA analysts often work to monitor networks for suspicious activity. In order to improve monitoring and threat intelligence efforts within an organization, information assurance analysts may:
- Utilize security information and event management (SIEM) systems to automate the monitoring process and perform real-time tracking.
- Analyze threat intelligence feeds.
- Conduct behavioral analytics to detect anomalies in network activity.
Zero Trust Security Implementation
According to Microsoft, Zero Trust is a security strategy that requires all users — regardless of their position within the organization or level of authority — to be authenticated before accessing the network. Zero Trust security implementation involves:
- Continuous verification of all users before granting access.
- Providing users with the least amount of privilege required to perform their job tasks.
- Isolating systems within the network through micro-segmentation.
- Enacting multi-factor authentication, requiring users to complete additional verification steps to access sensitive data.
- Creating strict endpoint security to control all devices connected to the network.
Common Information Assurance Job Titles
If you are interested in a career in information assurance, these are several common roles you might consider:
- Information security analyst – An information security analyst is responsible for protecting an organization’s digital infrastructure from cyberattacks.
- Information assurance analyst – IA analysts are cybersecurity professionals focused on risk assessment, policy enforcement and compliance.
- Cybersecurity Specialist – A cybersecurity specialist deals with intrusion detection, network security and digital forensics.
- Risk management specialist – Risk management specialists are information systems professionals who analyze potential cyber threats and design proactive security strategies.
- Compliance officer – A compliance officer is a specialized professional who aimsto ensure that organizations meet legal and regulatory standards when storing data and exchanging information.
Is Information Assurance a Good Career?
Information assurance is an excellent career option, especially for those who are proficient in advanced technology and who are passionate about cybersecurity. This career offers:
- Job stability and high demand – The industry faces a global cybersecurity talent shortage, with millions of vacant cybersecurity jobs.
- Career growth opportunities – Professionals have the opportunity to advance from analyst roles to leadership positions.
- Competitive salaries and benefits – IA professionals earn above-average salaries accompanied by strong benefits.
- Continuous learning and innovation – Cyber threats are ever-evolving — making the field dynamic and exciting.
- Impact and job satisfaction – Protecting sensitive data and systems makes IA a meaningful career for many.
Future Trends in Information Assurance
The demand for information assurance is expected to grow substantially in the coming years, particularly as cyberattacks become more advanced, complex and frequent. These emerging trends may define the field of IA in the years to come:
Growing Threats and Emerging Cybersecurity Challenges
Given the rise of AI-driven cyberattacks and deepfake phishing schemes, cyberattacks pose an increasingly significant threat to organizations of all sizes — whether in relation to cloud security or Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Expansion of Cyber Laws and Regulations
Recognizing the growing prominence of cyberattacks in today’s world, governments are beginning to enforce stricter data privacy regulations, forcing companies to invest more heavily in compliance and legal teams to avoid penalties.
The Rise of Zero Trust Security Models
The Zero Trust security strategy is becoming the standard, as organizations begin to recognize that traditional perimeter security is no longer enough. These advanced architectures require continuous verification of all users, ultimately elevating the security of the network and decreasing the risk of exposing critical data to the wrong parties.
Learn More About Baker’s Information Assurance Degree
At Baker College, we offer a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems with an Information Assurance Concentration, a tailored degree program that equips students with the advanced skills required to work in the field of information assurance. With classes led by experienced information systems professionals, you can enjoy industry-specific instruction while learning how to apply essential concepts within real-world settings. Request more information about our degree programs today!