easyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
CIA Triad Principles
A healthcare organization uses an online patient portal where patients can view their medical records. Recently, it was discovered that patient records were being modified by an unauthorized insider, and the system suffered a ransomware attack that encrypted the database, making it inaccessible for three days. Which TWO security principles were primarily violated? (Choose two.)
Quick Answer
The answer is integrity and availability. The unauthorized insider modifying patient records directly violates integrity, which guarantees that data has not been altered by unauthorized parties, while the ransomware attack encrypting the database and locking it for three days violates availability, which ensures systems and data are accessible when needed. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this scenario tests your ability to map real-world healthcare breaches to specific CIA triad principles—a common trap is confusing integrity with confidentiality, but remember that confidentiality is about unauthorized viewing, not unauthorized modification. A useful memory tip is to think of the “I” in integrity as “I didn’t change it,” and the “A” in availability as “Always accessible.”
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between confidentiality (unauthorized viewing) and integrity (unauthorized modification), so the trap here is confusing the insider's modification of records as a confidentiality breach rather than an integrity violation.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Integrity
The unauthorized modification of patient records violates integrity, which ensures data has not been altered by unauthorized entities. The ransomware attack that encrypted the database and made it inaccessible for three days violates availability, which ensures systems and data are accessible when needed. These two incidents directly compromise the CIA triad principles of integrity and availability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Confidentiality
Why it's wrong here
While unauthorized access could lead to confidentiality loss, the main issues described are modification and downtime.
- ✗
Authentication
Why it's wrong here
Authentication was bypassed, but the primary violations are integrity and availability.
- ✓
Integrity
Why this is correct
The unauthorized modification of patient records directly violates integrity.
- ✓
Availability
Why this is correct
The ransomware attack made the database inaccessible for three days, violating availability.
- ✗
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation ensures actions can be traced, but the scenario does not emphasize inability to deny actions.
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Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on 200-201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which of the following is a primary goal of the CIA triad?
easy- A.Redundancy
- B.Scalability
- ✓ C.Availability
- D.Maintainability
Why C: The CIA triad's primary goals are confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Availability ensures that authorized users have reliable and timely access to data and resources when needed, which is a core security objective. Option C is correct because availability is explicitly one of the three pillars of the CIA triad.
Variation 2. What is the primary goal of the 'integrity' pillar of the CIA triad?
easy- A.Keep data secret from unauthorized users
- B.Ensure data is accessible when needed
- C.Provide proof that a user performed an action
- ✓ D.Protect data from unauthorized modification
Why D: The 'integrity' pillar of the CIA triad ensures that data is not altered or tampered with by unauthorized parties. This is achieved through mechanisms such as hashing (e.g., SHA-256), checksums, and digital signatures that detect any unauthorized modification. Option D correctly identifies this goal, as protecting data from unauthorized modification is the core purpose of integrity controls.
Variation 3. Which THREE are principles of the CIA triad? (Select three.)
hard- A.Non-repudiation
- ✓ B.Confidentiality
- C.Accountability
- ✓ D.Integrity
- ✓ E.Availability
Why B: The CIA triad is the foundational security model consisting of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. Option B (Confidentiality) is correct because it ensures that data is accessible only to authorized users, typically enforced through encryption (e.g., AES-256) and access control lists (ACLs).
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.