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 principles of the CIA triad? (Select TWO.)
Confidentiality
Correct. Confidentiality is part of CIA.
Integrity
Correct. Integrity is part of CIA.
Non-repudiation
Why wrong: Non-repudiation is not part of the CIA triad.
Accountability
Why wrong: Accountability is not part of CIA.
Authorization
Why wrong: Authorization is not part of CIA.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a core principle of the CIA triad, ensuring that data is accessible only to authorized entities. This is typically enforced through encryption (e.g., AES-256) and access control mechanisms, preventing unauthorized disclosure.
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.
Confidentiality
Why this is correct
Correct. Confidentiality is part of CIA.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Integrity
Why this is correct
Correct. Integrity is part of CIA.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Non-repudiation
Why it's wrong here
Non-repudiation is not part of the CIA triad.
Accountability
Why it's wrong here
Accountability is not part of CIA.
Authorization
Why it's wrong here
Authorization is not part of CIA.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests candidates by listing security concepts like non-repudiation or authorization as distractors, expecting you to know that the CIA triad strictly includes only confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Detailed technical explanation
The CIA triad is the foundational model for information security policy. Confidentiality is often implemented via symmetric encryption (e.g., AES) for data at rest and TLS for data in transit. Integrity ensures data has not been tampered with, commonly verified using cryptographic hash functions like SHA-256. Availability ensures systems are operational, often achieved through redundancy and failover mechanisms.
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
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FAQ
Security Principles — This question tests Security Principles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Confidentiality — Confidentiality is a core principle of the CIA triad, ensuring that data is accessible only to authorized entities. This is typically enforced through encryption (e.g., AES-256) and access control mechanisms, preventing unauthorized disclosure.
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.
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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.
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