easyMultiple Choice
200-201 Is a primary goal of the CIA triad? Practice Question
Which of the following is a primary goal of the CIA triad?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between a primary goal of the CIA triad and a supporting mechanism or operational characteristic, so candidates may confuse redundancy (a means to achieve availability) with availability itself.
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
✓
Availability
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.
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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Redundancy
Why it's wrong here
Redundancy addresses availability through duplicated components, but the CIA triad's goals are confidentiality, integrity and availability themselves, not a design technique delivering one of them. It is tempting because redundancy supports uptime, and it would be correct where the question asked how to achieve availability.
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Scalability
Why it's wrong here
Scalability describes a system's capacity to grow with demand, not one of the CIA triad's confidentiality, integrity or availability goals. It is tempting because scaling supports service continuity, and it would be correct where the question asked how to accommodate increasing user or transaction volumes.
- ✓
Availability
Why this is correct
Availability ensures systems and data remain accessible to authorised users when needed, forming one of the three CIA triad pillars alongside confidentiality and integrity. It addresses the goal of preventing disruption and maintaining uptime for critical services.
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Maintainability
Why it's wrong here
Maintainability concerns how readily a system is repaired or modified, an operational lifecycle property outside the CIA triad's confidentiality, integrity and availability goals. It is tempting because poor maintainability can indirectly affect uptime, and it would be correct where the question concerned long-term supportability of a solution.
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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.