Comprehending Security through Shannon’s Communication Model

Abstract

Security in almost every field has often been implemented in a haphazard manner because a systematic approach has not yet been developed. To address this problem, we propose a context insensitive definition of security from a phenomenological perspective as well as its mathematical model through which we can understand the essence of security. Formalized syntax on security can be viewed as maintaining smooth operations even in the face of disturbances. Applying information theory to this syntax, we derive a mathematical model applicable to any situation where the term “security” appears and can understand what security is. Syntactic similarity between communication and security allows us to understand the essence of security and also to quantify security. These understandings free security from ad-hoc ways or best practices, limited to a single domain and not well-defined, depending on the Kansei, or intuition of the person in charge.