Data integrity is closely related to which important security principle?

Data integrity refers to the accuracy and consistency of stored data. It ensures that data has not been altered or tampered with in unauthorized ways. Authenticity is closely related to data integrity because it confirms the provenance and validity of the data, ensuring that it comes from a trusted source and has not been modified by anyone unauthorized.

When data is deemed authentic, it implies that the certain checks have been made to validate that the information is genuine and reliable. This establishes a foundation for trusting the integrity of the data, as users can be assured that what they are seeing is accurate and has not been subject to manipulation.

While other principles such as confidentiality, availability, and accountability are important aspects of security, they do not directly align with the concept of data integrity in the same manner that authenticity does. For instance, confidentiality focuses on protecting data from unauthorized access, availability ensures that data is accessible when needed, and accountability tracks actions related to data management. Authenticity, however, is fundamental to ensuring that the data remains intact and trustworthy.