Which element of the CIA triad focuses on maintaining system accessibility?

The element of the CIA triad that focuses on maintaining system accessibility is availability. In the context of cybersecurity, availability ensures that information and systems are accessible to authorized users when needed. This component emphasizes the importance of having systems up and running, preventing downtime, and ensuring that legitimate users can access data and resources promptly.

For example, availability may involve implementing redundancy, failover mechanisms, and robust disaster recovery plans to safeguard against potential disruptions due to hardware failures, network outages, or other unexpected events. By prioritizing availability, organizations can ensure that their services are consistently operational, supporting business continuity and user needs.

The other choices touch on different aspects of information security but do not relate directly to system accessibility. Confidentiality focuses on keeping information secret and protecting it from unauthorized access. Integrity involves maintaining the accuracy and trustworthiness of information by preventing unauthorized alterations. Authentication verifies the identity of users accessing a system, which is a critical process but not directly tied to the broader concept of maintaining system accessibility.