Quick Answer
The answer is integrity. This security goal is the correct choice because it directly ensures that data remains unaltered during transmission, which is verified through cryptographic mechanisms like hash functions (e.g., SHA-256) or message authentication codes (MACs) such as HMAC. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this concept tests your understanding of the CIA triad’s core distinctions: integrity focuses on preventing unauthorized modification, while confidentiality protects secrecy and availability ensures access. A common trap is confusing integrity with confidentiality when a question mentions “secure transmission,” but remember that integrity specifically addresses alteration, not eavesdropping. For a quick memory tip, think of a tamper-evident seal on a package—integrity is the digital equivalent, ensuring no one changed the contents in transit.
This CC practice question tests your understanding of security principles. 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.
An organization wants to ensure that data remains unaltered during transmission over the internet. Which security goal is being addressed?
Non-repudiation
Why wrong: Non-repudiation prevents denial of actions, not data modification.
Availability
Why wrong: Availability ensures data is accessible, not unaltered.
Confidentiality
Why wrong: Confidentiality protects data from unauthorized access, not alteration.
Integrity
Integrity ensures data is not altered during transmission.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Integrity
Integrity ensures that data is not altered during transmission, typically verified through cryptographic hash functions (e.g., SHA-256) or message authentication codes (MACs) such as HMAC. Protocols like TLS use integrity checks to detect any unauthorized modification of packets in transit, directly addressing the requirement that data remains unaltered.
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.
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation prevents denial of actions, not data modification.
Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability ensures data is accessible, not unaltered.
Confidentiality
Why it's wrong here
Confidentiality protects data from unauthorized access, not alteration.
Integrity
Why this is correct
Integrity ensures data is not altered during transmission.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the distinction between confidentiality and integrity by presenting a scenario about data alteration, where candidates mistakenly choose confidentiality because they associate encryption with all security, ignoring that encryption alone does not prevent tampering.
Detailed technical explanation
Integrity in transit is often enforced using a combination of hash-based message authentication codes (HMAC) and sequence numbers to prevent replay attacks. For example, IPsec uses the Authentication Header (AH) or Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) with integrity checking, while TLS records include a MAC over the record data and sequence number. A subtle behavior: even if encryption is present, without integrity verification, an attacker could flip bits in the ciphertext to cause predictable changes in the decrypted plaintext (bit-flipping attack).
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security Principles — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Security Principles practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All CC questions
500 questions across all exam domains
ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
CC practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise CC questions linked to Access Controls Concepts.
Practise CC questions linked to Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response.
Practise CC questions linked to Security Principles.
Practise CC questions linked to Network Security.
Practise CC questions linked to Security Operations.
Practise CC questions linked to CC fundamentals.
Practise CC questions linked to CC scenario.
Practise CC questions linked to CC troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Security Principles — This question tests Security Principles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Integrity — Integrity ensures that data is not altered during transmission, typically verified through cryptographic hash functions (e.g., SHA-256) or message authentication codes (MACs) such as HMAC. Protocols like TLS use integrity checks to detect any unauthorized modification of packets in transit, directly addressing the requirement that data remains unaltered.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.