The correct answer is Confidentiality, along with Integrity, as two of the three core principles of information security. These three principles form the CIA triad—Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability—which is the foundational model for all security controls. Confidentiality ensures that sensitive data is accessible only to authorized users, typically enforced through encryption like AES-256, while Integrity guarantees that data has not been altered or tampered with, often verified using hashing algorithms such as SHA-256 or HMAC. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, you will be tested on recognizing these three as the core principles, not supporting mechanisms like authentication or non-repudiation. A common trap is confusing confidentiality with privacy or integrity with availability, so remember that the triad is always these three together. To lock it in, use the mnemonic “CIA” itself—think of the agency that protects secrets (Confidentiality), ensures reports are accurate (Integrity), and keeps operations running (Availability).
ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
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.
Which TWO of the following are core principles of information security?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Integrity
The core principles of information security are the CIA triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. Integrity (B) ensures data has not been altered or tampered with, typically verified through hashing algorithms like SHA-256 or HMAC. Confidentiality (C) protects data from unauthorized access, often enforced via encryption (e.g., AES-256). These three form the foundational security model, while other options are supporting mechanisms.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 but is not a core principle of the CIA triad.
✓
Integrity
Why this is correct
Integrity ensures data is accurate and not modified improperly.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Confidentiality
Why this is correct
Confidentiality ensures data is accessible only to authorized parties.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation ensures an action cannot be denied, but is not part of the CIA triad.
✗
Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability is a core principle, but since the question asks for TWO correct answers, only A and C are correct.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests whether candidates can distinguish between core principles (CIA triad) and supporting security services (authentication, non-repudiation), leading many to incorrectly select authentication or non-repudiation as core principles instead of availability.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, integrity is maintained via cryptographic hash functions (e.g., SHA-256) that produce a fixed-size digest; any change to the data alters the digest, enabling detection of tampering. In real-world scenarios, integrity checks are critical in TLS handshakes (using HMAC) and in file integrity monitoring tools like Tripwire that compare current hashes against a baseline. Availability is enforced through redundancy (e.g., RAID, load balancers) and DDoS mitigation, but it is a core principle, not a supporting mechanism.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
Security Principles — This question tests Security Principles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Integrity — The core principles of information security are the CIA triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. Integrity (B) ensures data has not been altered or tampered with, typically verified through hashing algorithms like SHA-256 or HMAC. Confidentiality (C) protects data from unauthorized access, often enforced via encryption (e.g., AES-256). These three form the foundational security model, while other options are supporting mechanisms.
What should I do if I get this CC question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which THREE of the following are core principles of the CIA triad?
medium
✓ A.Confidentiality
✓ B.Integrity
C.Non-repudiation
D.Accountability
✓ E.Availability
Why A: Options A, C, and D are correct: confidentiality, integrity, and availability are the three pillars. Accountability (B) and non-repudiation (E) are related but not part of the CIA triad.
Variation 2. Which TWO of the following are core principles of the CIA triad?
easy
✓ A.Integrity
B.Non-repudiation
✓ C.Confidentiality
D.Authorization
E.Authentication
Why A: The CIA triad consists of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. Options A and C are correct. Option B (Non-repudiation) is separate. Option D (Authentication) is separate. Option E (Authorization) is separate.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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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.
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