200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
Which element of the CIA triad ensures that data cannot be modified by unauthorized parties?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is mixing up confidentiality and integrity — candidates often think 'unauthorized parties' implies confidentiality, but the question specifically says 'cannot be modified,' which is integrity, not secrecy.
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
Integrity is the CIA triad element that ensures data has not been altered or tampered with by unauthorized parties. It guarantees that information remains accurate, complete, and trustworthy throughout its lifecycle, typically enforced through hashing, checksums, digital signatures, and access controls.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability ensures systems and data remain accessible to authorised users, typically through redundancy and resilience; it does not prevent modification. Integrity is the CIA element that stops unauthorised alteration. Availability would be correct if the question asked how to keep services reachable during outages or denial-of-service attacks.
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Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation proves a party performed an action, using signatures and audit trails; it does not stop modification. Integrity is the CIA element that prevents unauthorised alteration. Non-repudiation would be the right answer if the question asked how to prevent a sender denying they sent a message.
- ✓
Integrity
Why this is correct
Integrity guarantees data remains accurate and unaltered unless changed by authorised parties. Hashing, checksums and digital signatures detect unauthorised modification, directly satisfying the requirement that data cannot be modified by unauthorised parties, unlike confidentiality or availability controls.
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Confidentiality
Why it's wrong here
Confidentiality restricts who can read data through encryption and access controls; it does not prevent alteration. Integrity is the CIA element that ensures data cannot be modified by unauthorised parties. Confidentiality would be correct if the question asked how to prevent unauthorised disclosure of data.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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.