Integrity
What is Integrity?
Integrity is the security principle that information and systems should remain accurate, complete, and protected from unauthorized or improper change.
Examples
- A finance system uses approval controls and audit logs so payment details cannot be changed without authorization.
- A software company verifies file hashes before installing updates to make sure the files have not been tampered with.
Discover 🔎
Imagine opening a payroll record, a patient file, or a software update and having no way to know whether the information is still correct. Even if the data is private and easy to access, it becomes dangerous if it cannot be trusted. That is why integrity matters.
Integrity is the part of security that focuses on correctness and trustworthiness. It asks whether information has been changed, whether that change was allowed, and whether the result can still be relied on. In the CIA Triad, confidentiality is about who can see the data, availability is about whether it can be accessed when needed, and integrity is about whether the data is still right.
Summary 📝
Integrity is the CIA principle focused on keeping data and systems accurate, complete, and trustworthy. It matters because information that cannot be trusted can lead to bad decisions, hidden compromise, and serious operational damage. Organizations protect integrity through controlled change, verification methods, logging, approvals, and careful handling of important information.
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