What pillar of data security ensures that only certain employees may access information?

The pillar of data security that ensures only certain employees may access information is confidentiality. Confidentiality involves safeguarding sensitive information from unauthorized access. This is typically accomplished through access controls, which grant permissions to specific users based on their roles within an organization. By restricting access to data, organizations can protect sensitive information, such as personal health records or proprietary business data, ensuring that only authorized personnel can view or manage it.

Integrity, which refers to the accuracy and consistency of data over its lifecycle, is focused on preventing unauthorized alterations to information, but it does not address who can access the data. Availability is concerned with ensuring that information is accessible to authorized users when needed, and accountability looks at tracking and tracing user actions to ensure responsible data handling. While all these pillars contribute to a comprehensive data security strategy, confidentiality specifically addresses the need to limit access to sensitive information.