CIA
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Central Intelligence Agency |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Government & Politics, Technology & Computing, Education & Academia |
CIA has three meanings. The most common are Central Intelligence Agency (US federal agency) and Confidentiality, integrity, availability (cybersecurity); it can also stand for Certified Internal Auditor.
Meanings of CIA at a glance
| # | CIA stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Intelligence Agency | Government & Politics › US Federal Agency |
| 2 | Confidentiality, integrity, availability | Technology & Computing › Cybersecurity |
| 3 | Certified Internal Auditor | Education & Academia › Professional Certification |
1. Central Intelligence Agency
Government & Politics · US Federal Agency Abbreviations
Independent US agency that collects foreign intelligence, largely from human sources, analyzes global threats for the President and conducts covert action when authorized by a presidential finding. Headquartered in Langley, Virginia, it is led by the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Example: A former CIA officer said the agency had warned the White House months earlier.
The National Security Act of 1947 created the CIA from the wartime Office of Strategic Services. Since 2005 the Director of National Intelligence, not the CIA director, has headed the overall Intelligence Community. The CIA has no domestic law enforcement powers, and insiders often refer to it by its location, Langley.
2. Confidentiality, integrity, availability
Technology & Computing · Cybersecurity Abbreviations
The three core goals of information security, known as the CIA triad: keeping data secret from unauthorized people, keeping it accurate and unaltered, and keeping systems and data accessible when needed. Security controls are often classified by the goal they serve.
Example: Ransomware hits all three parts of the CIA triad: data is encrypted, stolen and made unavailable.
The triad appears in nearly every security textbook and certification syllabus, including CISSP and Security+. Critics argue it leaves out properties such as authenticity and accountability, which extended models such as the Parkerian hexad add. In news, CIA means the US Central Intelligence Agency, so security writing usually says "CIA triad".
3. Certified Internal Auditor
Education & Academia · Professional Certification Abbreviations
Global certification from the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) for internal audit professionals, earned by passing a three-part exam and meeting education and experience requirements. It covers internal audit fundamentals, engagements, risk and business knowledge.
Example: The audit committee wants the new chief audit executive to hold the CIA.
Introduced in 1974, the CIA is the main credential in internal auditing worldwide. Holders must complete continuing professional education each year. Outside auditing, the letters overwhelmingly refer to the US Central Intelligence Agency, so résumés often add "Certified Internal Auditor" in full.
Related abbreviations
More US federal agency abbreviations
- CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CEA – Council of Economic Advisers
- CFPB – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- CFTC – Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- CISA – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
- CMS – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- CPB – Corporation for Public Broadcasting
- CPSC – U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
See all 152 US federal agency abbreviations →
More cybersecurity abbreviations
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- CASB – Cloud access security broker
- CEH – Certified Ethical Hacker
- CERT – Computer Emergency Response Team
- CISO – Chief information security officer
- CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- CSPM – Cloud security posture management
- CSR – Certificate signing request