ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
An organization wants to ensure the integrity of a software update before deployment. Which two methods can be used to verify integrity? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Digital signature
Integrity ensures data has not been altered. Hashing produces a digest that can be compared to verify the file has not changed. Digital signatures use asymmetric cryptography to verify authenticity and integrity. Encryption provides confidentiality, not integrity. Access controls limit who can modify data but do not verify integrity after the fact. Redundancy supports availability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Encryption
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects confidentiality, not integrity.
- ✗
Redundant servers
Why it's wrong here
Redundancy supports availability, not integrity.
- ✓
Digital signature
Why this is correct
Digital signatures provide both authenticity and integrity verification.
- ✗
Access control lists
Why it's wrong here
ACLs restrict who can modify data but do not verify that data has not been altered.
- ✓
Hashing
Why this is correct
Hashing generates a unique hash value; comparing it verifies that the file has not been modified.
Quick reference
Asymmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Exchange | Signatures | Equivalent Security Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSA-3072 | Yes | Yes | 128-bit | Widely deployed; slow for bulk data |
| ECDSA P-256 | No | Yes | 128-bit | Fast signatures; standard TLS certs |
| ECDH / ECDHE | Yes | No | 128-bit | Perfect forward secrecy in TLS 1.3 |
| DH / DHE | Yes | No | 128-bit (3072-bit key) | Replaced by ECDHE in modern TLS |
| Ed25519 | No | Yes | ~128-bit | SSH keys, modern PKI |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Authentication and Authorization Methods
Key term
Redundancy
Redundancy is the practice of adding extra components or systems so that if one fails, another can take over without interruption.
Key term
Organization
An Organization is a top-level container in Google Cloud that represents your company or entities and serves as the root node for all your cloud resources, policies, and access control.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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