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Confidentiality

What is Confidentiality?

The principle of ensuring that information is accessible only to authorised individuals, entities, or processes. One of the three pillars of information security (CIA triad).

Information Security

What the standards actually require on confidentiality

Requirements naming confidentiality across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

Management obtains signed confidentiality agreements from employees and contractors before granting access to IT systems, putting them on notice that the institution owns its information, expects strict confidentiality and prohibits sharing beyond legitimate b...

ffiec-it-examination-handbook::IS-II.C.7(d) · II.C.7(d) Confidentiality Agreements (Information Security) →
ISO 27002:202219 controls

Confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements that match the organization's information protection needs are to be identified, written, reviewed regularly and signed by staff and by the outside parties concerned.

iso-27002-2022::6.6 · Confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements →
ISO 19011:202613 controls

Confidentiality means keeping information secure and private. Auditors should be discreet in how they use and protect information that comes to them while auditing.

iso-19011-2026::4.5 · Confidentiality →

The organization should have processes that keep matters confidential for every interested party, the whistleblower and anyone reported included.

iso-37002-2021-whistleblowing-management-systems::7.5.5 · 7.5.5 Confidentiality →

Protect the [Selection (one or more): confidentiality; integrity] of transmitted information.

NIST800-SC-8 · SC-8 Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity →

The processor must avoid anything that would disclose personal data or processing results except where the law authorises it, and must protect and secure the processing, the electronic media and devices used, and the personal data on them.

federal-decree-law-no-45-of-2021-on-the-protection-of-personal-data-uae-pdpl::8(5) · Articles 8(5) and 8(6): processor confidentiality and security of processing and media →

Questions people ask about confidentiality

What is Confidentiality?
The principle of ensuring that information is accessible only to authorised individuals, entities, or processes. One of the three pillars of information security (CIA triad).
Why is Confidentiality important for compliance?
Confidentiality is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding confidentiality helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 1,016 frameworks with 316K cross-framework control mappings.
What concepts are related to Confidentiality?
Key concepts related to Confidentiality include Encryption, Access Control. Understanding these interconnected concepts provides a more comprehensive view of Information Security requirements and helps organizations build holistic compliance programs.
Which compliance frameworks address Confidentiality?
Confidentiality appears in the requirement text of FFIEC IT Examination Handbook, ISO 27002:2022, ISO 19011:2026, ISO 37002:2021 - Whistleblowing Management Systems, NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5. Across these standards we have identified 89 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Confidentiality?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how confidentiality applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 1,016 frameworks.

See how Confidentiality applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 1,016 frameworks with 316K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.