ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
Which security principle ensures that data cannot be accessed by unauthorized individuals?
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
✓
Confidentiality
Confidentiality ensures that data is not disclosed to unauthorized individuals, systems, or processes.
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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Integrity
Why it's wrong here
Integrity protects data from unauthorised modification, not unauthorised access; confidentiality governs who may read data. Integrity is tempting because it is a core CIA triad principle, and it would be correct when the requirement is detecting tampering or ensuring data remains unaltered in transit or at rest.
- ✓
Confidentiality
Why this is correct
Confidentiality directly prevents unauthorised disclosure, ensuring data is readable only by approved parties. It is the principle that satisfies the stem's requirement that data cannot be accessed by unauthorised individuals, distinct from integrity, which protects accuracy, and availability, which protects timely access.
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Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation proves a party performed an action, typically via digital signatures or audit logs, and does not prevent unauthorised access; confidentiality does. Non-repudiation is tempting because it appears in security exams alongside CIA principles, and it would be correct when disputing whether a sender truly originated a transaction.
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Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability ensures data and systems remain accessible to authorised users when needed, not that access is restricted to them; confidentiality controls unauthorised reading. Availability is tempting as a CIA triad pillar, and it would be correct when the requirement is uptime, redundancy or resilience against denial-of-service.
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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.