데이터 기밀성

(출처 : wikipedia)

Confidentiality refers to preventing the disclosure of information to unauthorized individuals or systems. For example, a credit card transaction on the Internet requires the credit card number to be transmitted from the buyer to the merchant and from the merchant to a transaction processing network. The system attempts to enforce confidentiality by encrypting the card number during transmission, by limiting the places where it might appear (in databases, log files, backups, printed receipts, and so on), and by restricting access to the places where it is stored. If an unauthorized party obtains the card number in any way, a breach of confidentiality has occurred. Confidentiality is necessary for maintaining the privacy of the people whose personal information a system holds.

허락 되지 않은 사용자 또는 객체가 정보의 내용을 알 수 없도록 하는 것이다. 비밀보장이라고 할 수도 있다. 원치 않는 정보의 공개를 막는다는 의미에서 프라이버시 보호와 밀접한 관계가 있다.