What does the term 'data integrity' refer to in cybersecurity?

Data integrity in the context of cybersecurity refers to the consistency and accuracy of data throughout its lifecycle. It is a fundamental aspect that ensures that the data remains unchanged and reliable during storage, transmission, and processing. Maintaining data integrity means preventing unauthorized alterations and ensuring that the information is accurate and complete.

When data integrity is compromised, it can lead to incorrect conclusions, misleading information, and potentially harmful decisions based on faulty data. For instance, if financial records are altered, it could lead to substantial financial losses for an organization. Therefore, various measures, such as checksums, hashing algorithms, and access controls, are implemented within cybersecurity practices to protect data integrity.

The other choices, while related to aspects of data handling, do not capture the essence of what data integrity entails. The size of data stored involves storage management, the speed of data retrieval focuses on performance and efficiency, and the variety of data types pertains to data diversity and categorization rather than its accuracy or consistency. Thus, understanding and prioritizing data integrity is crucial for effective cybersecurity strategies.