ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
A security administrator is configuring a system to detect unauthorized changes to critical files by calculating and storing a hash value for each file. Which security goal is primarily supported?
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
Hashing ensures that any modification to the file can be detected, supporting integrity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Authentication
Why it's wrong here
Authentication verifies identity; hashing is for data integrity.
- ✓
Integrity
Why this is correct
Correct. Hashing verifies that data has not been altered.
- ✗
Confidentiality
Why it's wrong here
Hashing does not prevent disclosure; it detects changes.
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Availability
Why it's wrong here
Hashing does not ensure system availability.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
Key term
Integrity
Integrity is the assurance that data has not been altered or tampered with in an unauthorized way, preserving its accuracy and consistency from source to destination.
Key term
Hashing
Hashing is a one-way mathematical function that converts any input data into a fixed-length string of characters, called a hash or digest, which is used to verify data integrity and store passwords securely.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.