This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
What is the primary goal of the 'integrity' pillar of the CIA triad?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Keep data secret from unauthorized users
Why wrong: That is confidentiality.
Ensure data is accessible when needed
Why wrong: That is availability.
Provide proof that a user performed an action
Why wrong: That is non-repudiation.
Protect data from unauthorized modification
Integrity prevents unauthorized changes.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Protect data from unauthorized modification
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.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Keep data secret from unauthorized users
Why it's wrong here
That is confidentiality.
Ensure data is accessible when needed
Why it's wrong here
That is availability.
Provide proof that a user performed an action
Why it's wrong here
That is non-repudiation.
Protect data from unauthorized modification
Why this is correct
Integrity prevents unauthorized changes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between integrity and non-repudiation, as candidates may confuse 'proof of action' (non-repudiation) with 'data unchanged' (integrity), leading them to incorrectly select Option C.
Detailed technical explanation
Integrity is enforced using cryptographic hash functions like SHA-256 or HMAC, which produce a fixed-size digest that changes if even a single bit of the data is altered. In real-world scenarios, integrity checks are critical for firmware updates, where a mismatch in the hash indicates tampering or corruption. Additionally, database systems use transaction logs and checksums to maintain integrity during writes, ensuring that partial writes or crashes do not leave data in an inconsistent state.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Security Concepts — This question tests Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Protect data from unauthorized modification — 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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