ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are examples of integrity controls? (Select 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 signatures
Digital signatures (B) are an integrity control because they use asymmetric cryptography to create a verifiable value over a message, allowing the recipient to detect any modification to the data and confirm the signer's identity. Hashing (E) is also an integrity control because a cryptographic hash function such as SHA-256 produces a fixed-length digest that changes if even one bit of the input changes, enabling detection of unauthorized alteration. Redundancy (A) primarily supports availability by duplicating components or data, not by detecting modification. Firewalls (C) are network access controls that enforce confidentiality and availability boundaries rather than data integrity. Encryption (D) is chiefly a confidentiality control, since it protects data from disclosure, although it may incidentally hinder tampering.
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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Redundancy
Why it's wrong here
Redundancy supports availability, ensuring data or services remain accessible after component failure, rather than detecting or preventing unauthorised alteration. It is tempting because duplicate copies can aid recovery from corruption, but integrity controls such as hashing or checksums verify that data has not been modified.
- ✓
Digital signatures
Why this is correct
Digital signatures verify that data has not been altered in transit and authenticate the signer, directly detecting unauthorised modification. This satisfies the stem's integrity-control criterion because any change to the signed content invalidates the signature, unlike confidentiality controls such as encryption.
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Firewalls
Why it's wrong here
Firewalls enforce network access rules, providing confidentiality and availability by blocking unwanted traffic, but they do not verify that data itself remains unaltered. They are tempting because they prevent intrusions that could corrupt data, yet integrity controls specifically detect or prevent unauthorised modification, such as checksums.
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Encryption
Why it's wrong here
Encryption provides confidentiality by rendering data unreadable to unauthorised parties; it does not detect or prevent modification of data. It is tempting because encryption often includes integrity mechanisms in practice, but as a control category it is classified under confidentiality, not integrity.
- ✓
Hashing
Why this is correct
Hashing produces a fixed-length digest from data; any alteration yields a different hash, so comparison detects unauthorised modification. This satisfies the stem's integrity-control requirement, as hashing verifies data has remained unchanged, unlike encryption, which primarily provides confidentiality.
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
Network Security Foundations
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
Confidentiality
Confidentiality means keeping sensitive information secret and accessible only to authorized people or systems.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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