Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Which statement best describes integrity in the CIA triad?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
Protecting information from unauthorized modification
This is correct because integrity focuses on preventing or detecting improper changes.
B
Distractor review
Making information available at all times
This is wrong because that is an availability-oriented idea.
C
Distractor review
Preventing unauthorized people from seeing the data
This is wrong because that is confidentiality.
D
Distractor review
Recording all commands for audit
This is wrong because audit logging is closer to accounting than the core meaning of integrity.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is mistaking integrity for confidentiality or availability. Candidates often select options related to preventing unauthorized data access (confidentiality) or ensuring uptime (availability) because these concepts are closely related in security discussions. However, integrity specifically focuses on protecting data from unauthorized modification, not just access or availability. Misreading the question or conflating these concepts can lead to choosing incorrect answers like 'making information available at all times' or 'preventing unauthorized people from seeing the data.' Understanding the distinct role of integrity in the CIA triad is essential to avoid this confusion.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Integrity in the CIA triad refers to the assurance that data remains accurate, consistent, and unaltered except by authorized users. It ensures that information is protected from unauthorized modification, whether accidental or malicious, preserving its trustworthiness throughout its lifecycle. In Cisco networking and security contexts, integrity mechanisms help detect and prevent tampering with configuration files, routing information, and transmitted data. The decision process to verify integrity involves using cryptographic hashes, digital signatures, and checksums to detect unauthorized changes. Cisco devices often implement integrity checks in protocols and security features such as IPsec, SSH, and SNMPv3, which use cryptographic methods to ensure data has not been altered in transit. Integrity differs from confidentiality, which prevents unauthorized data access, and availability, which ensures data and services are accessible when needed. A common exam trap is confusing integrity with confidentiality or availability. For example, protecting data from unauthorized viewing is confidentiality, not integrity. In practical networking, integrity is critical for routing protocols like OSPF and EIGRP, where unauthorized changes to routing tables can cause network outages or security breaches. Cisco devices use integrity checks to maintain reliable network operations and secure management access.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Integrity in the CIA triad ensures data remains accurate and unaltered except by authorized users throughout its lifecycle.
- Cisco devices use cryptographic hashes and digital signatures to detect unauthorized modifications and maintain data integrity.
- Integrity differs from confidentiality, which prevents unauthorized data access, and availability, which ensures data is accessible when needed.
- Security protocols like IPsec and SSH implement integrity checks to protect data from tampering during transmission.
- Routing protocols such as OSPF and EIGRP rely on integrity mechanisms to prevent unauthorized changes that could disrupt network operations.
- Integrity verification involves comparing data hashes or checksums to detect any unauthorized alterations.
- Audit logs support integrity by recording changes but primarily serve accounting and accountability functions rather than core integrity enforcement.
- Understanding the distinct role of integrity helps avoid confusing it with confidentiality or availability in Cisco security contexts.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Integrity in the CIA triad ensures data remains accurate and unaltered except by authorized users throughout its lifecycle.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Protecting information from unauthorized modification — Integrity is about protecting data from unauthorized changes and helping ensure that information remains accurate and trustworthy. In plain language, it answers the question of whether the data has been altered improperly. This is different from confidentiality, which is about preventing unauthorized disclosure, and availability, which is about access when needed. This distinction matters because many security controls target one part of the CIA triad more directly than the others. The correct answer is the one focused on unauthorized modification rather than disclosure or uptime.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
Discussion
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