The primary purpose of Information Security, as defined by frameworks like ISO/IEC 27001, is to protect information assets by preserving their confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA). This is achieved through a systematic risk management process. Consequently, information security directly supports ensuring business continuity, minimizing business risks, and maximizing the return on security investments by preventing costly incidents. However, the direct function of information security is protective and preservative; it is not intended to actively generate or increase business assets. While a strong security posture can enhance reputation and indirectly contribute to business growth, its core purpose is safeguarding existing value, not creating new assets.

A. Information security ensures the availability and integrity of critical information and systems, which is a fundamental prerequisite for effective business continuity management.

B. The entire ISO 27001 standard is centered on a risk management framework to identify, assess, and treat information security risks, thereby minimizing overall business risk.

D. By preventing financial and operational losses from security breaches, information security expenditures are justified as a means to protect revenue and maximize return on investment.

1. ISO/IEC 27001:2022 - Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection — Information security management systems — Requirements. Section 0.1, "General," states, "This document specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an information security management system... The adoption of an ISMS is a strategic decision for an organization. The ISMS preserves the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information by applying a risk management process..." This directly supports the purpose of minimizing risk.

2. ISO/IEC 27001:2022, Annex A, Control 5.30, "ICT readiness for business continuity." The objective of this control is "to ensure the availability of the organization’s information and other associated assets during disruption." This explicitly links information security to the purpose of ensuring business continuity.

3. Humphreys, E. (2016). Implementing the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 ISMS Standard. Artech House. In Chapter 2, "The Business Case," the text discusses how information security is justified through business benefits, including "reducing the costs associated with information security incidents" and "improving the return on investment," which aligns with maximizing ROI and minimizing risk.

4. Brotby, K. (2009). Information Security Governance: A Practical Development and Implementation Guide. Wiley. Chapter 1, "The Business of Information Security," explains that security's role is to enable the business by managing risk to an acceptable level, which allows the business to operate effectively and achieve its objectives, rather than being a function that generates assets.