ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
A company experiences a ransomware attack that encrypts its file servers. The security team restores operations from offline backups taken the previous night. Which security principle does the restoration from backups primarily support?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is selecting integrity because ransomware alters files, but the restoration activity is aimed at restoring access, which is availability.
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
Ransomware encryption makes the file servers unavailable, and restoring from an offline backup taken the previous night brings the data and services back online with minimal loss. That is the availability objective of the CIA triad. Confidentiality protects against disclosure, integrity protects against unauthorized alteration, and non-repudiation proves actions; the recovery activity here is specifically about regaining access to systems and data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Availability
Why this is correct
Availability ensures that systems and data are accessible to authorized users when needed. Ransomware encryption makes the file servers unusable, and restoring from offline backups taken the previous night returns the data and services to operation. This directly addresses the availability objective by minimizing downtime and data loss. Offline backups are especially valuable because they are not reachable by the malware, so they remain a reliable recovery source.
- ✗
Integrity
Why it's wrong here
Integrity ensures data has not been altered in an unauthorized way. Ransomware certainly damages integrity by encrypting files, but the act of restoring from backups is aimed at returning service, not at detecting or preventing unauthorized modification through controls like hashing or signatures. The scenario emphasizes resumed operations, so the primary principle supported is availability rather than integrity.
- ✗
Confidentiality
Why it's wrong here
Confidentiality prevents unauthorized disclosure of information, typically through encryption, access controls, and data classification. Restoring from backups after ransomware does not hide or protect the contents of the data from disclosure; it reestablishes access to the data after the attack. Since the scenario's focus is on getting the file servers operational again, confidentiality is not the principle being supported by the restoration activity.
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Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation provides proof that a specific party performed an action, usually through digital signatures and tamper-evident logs. Restoring data from backups does not establish who performed an action or prevent someone from denying it. The scenario is about recovering from an outage caused by ransomware, so the relevant goal is restoring access to data and systems, not proving the identity or actions of a party.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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