Learn in the textbookFundamentals of Information Security and the Information Assets to Protect
DefinitionAn information asset (情報資産) is a collective name for information that has value to an organization and must be protected, together with the media and equipment used to record and process it.
ExplanationNot only the data but also the media and documents that store it and the equipment and software that process it are treated as things to protect. A factor that can lead to harm to information assets is called a threat, so information security can be described as the work of protecting information assets from threats.
AnalogyFor a library, the property worth protecting is not just the books but also the lending records, the keys to the stacks, and the search terminals used to find books.
Memory hookAn asset is something whose value can be turned into money. Once you see that information has a price too, the reason to protect it becomes clear.