Security Goals

Primary definition

The five security goals are confidentiality, availability, integrity, accountability, and assurance. (SP 800-27) (NISTIR)

Also known asCIA-A · security objectives · information security goals
1 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 10, 2026
The Cyber GlossaryView source
People also ask

What are security goals?

The term Security Goals refers to high-level statements describing the security outcomes a system or organization is intended to achieve, such as confidentiality, integrity, availability, accountability, or resilience. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.

How are security goals used when designing a system?

In practice, Security Goals is applied to the technical or security purpose captured by its definition: high-level statements describing the security outcomes a system or organization is intended to achieve. Organizations combine that function with documented procedures, authorized access, testing, monitoring, and controls appropriate to the system. The governing standard or security policy determines the exact implementation.

Why do security goals matter for election systems?

Understanding Security Goals matters because the concept can affect security, reliability, auditability, or trusted operation. In this glossary context, it refers to high-level statements describing the security outcomes a system or organization is intended to achieve. Applying the term precisely helps teams choose controls that match the actual technical function instead of assuming a broader or unrelated meaning.

Understand more election terms clearly

Get one important election term explained each week, with authoritative sources, practical context and related definitions.

Free. One useful email each week. Unsubscribe anytime.Learn more about the ESG newsletter →
TCG

The five security goals are confidentiality, availability, integrity, accountability, and assurance. (SP 800-27) (NISTIR)

The Cyber Glossary · 2024

Cite this term

Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Security Goals. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 21, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/security-goals

Sources

1 cited · last checked Aug 10, 2026

01

The Cyber Glossary
The Cyber Glossary

Single-source

View source

Get the weekly election term

Receive one cited, source-backed election explanation in your inbox each week.

Get election terms explained weekly →
Free · Nonpartisan · Unsubscribe anytime.
Continue Research

Keep going from here

Three ways to go deeper on cybersecurity and adjacent terminology.