IT3358 at Capella University is a three-credit course in which students demonstrate their knowledge of information security fundamentals. Capella's catalog says they apply the concepts of confidentiality, integrity and availability to securing organizational assets.
The catalog description is brief and lists no prerequisite, so the course works as an entry point to security for IT professionals. Its value lies in the vocabulary and habits of thought it builds, which later security courses assume.
Students struggle when they treat security as a list of tools. The course asks you to start from an asset and a goal, then reason towards controls.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Capella University |
| Course code | IT3358 |
| Credits | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Subject area | Information security fundamentals |
| Core framework | Confidentiality, integrity and availability (CIA) |
| Typical work | Applying concepts to organizational scenarios (check your courseroom) |
What IT3358 Covers
| Concept | What it protects | Example of failure |
|---|---|---|
| Confidentiality | Information from unauthorised viewing | Customer records exposed to the wrong staff |
| Integrity | Accuracy and trustworthiness of data | A price list altered without approval |
| Availability | Access when it is needed | A key system down during business hours |
| Organizational assets | Data, systems, people and processes | An unlisted asset that no one protects |
The catalog names only these ideas, so expect the course to extend them into threats, vulnerabilities and controls as your readings direct.
Key Concepts Explained
Starting from Assets
You cannot secure what you have not listed. A good analysis names the asset, says why it matters to the organization and identifies which of the three goals matters most for it.
Illustration (invented): A small accounting firm lists client tax files, its email system and its laptops. For tax files, confidentiality ranks highest. For the email system, availability is critical during filing season. For the price list on its website, integrity matters most.
Matching Controls to Goals
Controls are chosen because they support a goal, not because they are popular. Access controls and encryption support confidentiality; change control and checksums support integrity; backups and redundancy support availability.
Trade-Offs
Strengthening one goal can weaken another. Locking a system down heavily may reduce availability for legitimate users. Good answers acknowledge the trade-off and say which side the organization should favor and why.
Illustration (invented): Requiring approval for every report download protects confidentiality but slows analysts. A more balanced choice might require approval only for the most sensitive reports and log the rest.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Concept application | Using CIA on a case | Pick assets, rank the goals and justify the order |
| Control recommendation | Linking controls to goals | Use a table: goal, risk, control, trade-off |
| Short paper or discussion | Explaining ideas in your own words | Open with a definition, then give a concrete example |
| Reflection | Connecting learning to your work | Use a real workplace situation without confidential detail |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Describing tools, not goals. Start from what you are protecting.
- Treating the three goals as equal everywhere. Rank them for each asset.
- Generic answers. Use the details of the scenario.
- Ignoring people. Staff behavior is part of every security picture.
Study Tips for IT3358
- Create a one-page sheet with the three goals, a threat and a control for each.
- Apply the triad to systems you know: a phone, a bank app, a workplace database.
- Use APA citations for any readings your instructions require.
- Keep answers focused: three well-explained points beat ten lists.
A Study Grid for the Three Goals
A grid makes the vocabulary concrete. Fill in your own examples as you read.
| Goal | Question and control | Your example |
|---|---|---|
| Confidentiality | Who may see this? Access control, encryption | Add your own |
| Integrity | Is this unaltered? Change control, checksums | Add your own |
| Availability | Can people use it now? Backups, redundancy | Add your own |
Questions to Test Yourself
Choose an asset from your workplace or daily life and rank the three goals for it. Explain why the top goal matters most. Then name one control for each goal and one situation where a control for one goal harms another. Being able to do this out loud is a good sign you can write a clear assignment answer.
A Short Worked Answer
This invented example shows a compact answer to a prompt about securing a small clinic's patient records.
Patient records are the key asset. Confidentiality is the priority because exposure harms patients and breaks trust. Controls include role-based access, encryption of stored files and screen locks. Integrity matters because wrong data could affect care, so changes are logged. Availability matters during clinic hours, so nightly backups and a tested restore process are used. The main trade-off is that strong access rules can slow urgent access, so an emergency procedure is defined and audited.
The answer names the asset, ranks the goals, links controls to goals and admits a trade-off.
How We Help with IT3358
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Frequently Asked Questions
Three credits, according to Capella's catalog.
Information security fundamentals, applying confidentiality, integrity and availability to securing organizational assets.
The catalog lists none.
Integrity concerns whether data is accurate and unaltered; availability concerns whether authorized users can reach it when needed.
That depends on your program. IT4803 System Assurance Security is a common security course in Capella's IT sequence; check your plan.
Yes. Send the paper and rubric and we give feedback on structure, use of the concepts and evidence.