Which principle is primarily concerned with ensuring that data remains accurate and protected from unauthorized changes?

Which principle is primarily concerned with ensuring that data remains accurate and protected from unauthorized changes?

• A. Confidentiality
• B. Availability
• C. Non-repudiation
• D. Integrity

Answer: (D)

Keeping data accurate and protected from unauthorized changes is the focus of integrity. Integrity ensures information remains trustworthy, unaltered by anyone who shouldn’t change it, and that any modifications are properly authorized and detectable. Methods like integrity checks (hashes, checksums), digital signatures, and audit trails help verify that data hasn’t been tampered with and that edits are legitimate. This contrasts with confidentiality, which is about preventing disclosure; availability, which ensures access when needed; and non-repudiation, which ties a message to its origin and prevents denial of action. Thus, integrity is the principle most concerned with data accuracy and preventing unauthorized changes.

Keeping data accurate and protected from unauthorized changes is the focus of integrity. Integrity ensures information remains trustworthy, unaltered by anyone who shouldn’t change it, and that any modifications are properly authorized and detectable. Methods like integrity checks (hashes, checksums), digital signatures, and audit trails help verify that data hasn’t been tampered with and that edits are legitimate. This contrasts with confidentiality, which is about preventing disclosure; availability, which ensures access when needed; and non-repudiation, which ties a message to its origin and prevents denial of action. Thus, integrity is the principle most concerned with data accuracy and preventing unauthorized changes.