Which statement defines Integrity in the CIA triad?

Which statement defines Integrity in the CIA triad?

• A. It ensures only data creators can view the data.
• B. It prevents data from being deleted.
• C. It guarantees data always remains online.
• D. It ensures data is accurate and unaltered.

Answer: (D)

Integrity in the CIA triad means that information remains accurate and trustworthy, and protected from unauthorized modification. It focuses on ensuring data isn’t altered in unintended ways and that any changes are detectable and legitimate. When data is accurate and unaltered, systems and people can rely on it to reflect the true state of affairs, which is essential for making correct decisions. To support integrity, controls like checksums or cryptographic hashes verify that data hasn’t changed, digital signatures confirm trusted origin, and audit trails record who changed what and when. The other statements describe confidentiality (restricting who can view data) and availability (keeping data accessible or online), but they don’t capture the idea of data remaining correct and intact, which is at the heart of integrity.

Integrity in the CIA triad means that information remains accurate and trustworthy, and protected from unauthorized modification. It focuses on ensuring data isn’t altered in unintended ways and that any changes are detectable and legitimate. When data is accurate and unaltered, systems and people can rely on it to reflect the true state of affairs, which is essential for making correct decisions. To support integrity, controls like checksums or cryptographic hashes verify that data hasn’t changed, digital signatures confirm trusted origin, and audit trails record who changed what and when. The other statements describe confidentiality (restricting who can view data) and availability (keeping data accessible or online), but they don’t capture the idea of data remaining correct and intact, which is at the heart of integrity.