What aspect of the CIA triad does integrity represent?

Integrity, as represented in the CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability), specifically refers to the assurance that data is accurate and unaltered. This concept ensures that information remains trustworthy and consistent over its lifecycle. When integrity is maintained, it means that data has not been tampered with, corrupted, or modified in any unauthorized way, preserving its original form for analysis and decision-making.

In the context of data security, preserving integrity involves implementing measures such as checksums, hashing algorithms, and access controls that allow only authorized users to edit or modify data. This is crucial for organizations that rely on the accuracy of their information to function correctly and make informed decisions.

While other aspects of the CIA triad focus on different facets—such as availability ensuring that data is accessible when needed or confidentiality protecting data from unauthorized access—integrity specifically targets the correctness and authenticity of that data.