Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 100%

Which scenario demonstrates a violation of the integrity component of the CIA triad?

Rationale

An employee accidentally modified a customer account incorrectly.

This scenario illustrates a violation of the integrity component of the CIA triad, as the accidental modification of a customer account can lead to incorrect data and loss of trust in the system's reliability.

A (An employee accidentally modified a customer account incorrectly.) CORRECT

Incorrect modifications to customer accounts directly affect the integrity of data. Integrity ensures that data remains accurate and trustworthy. When an employee makes an error leading to incorrect information, it compromises the integrity of that account, potentially causing further issues in data processing and decision-making.

B (A network's domain name system server has not been fully operational for one month.) YOUR ANSWER

While this scenario presents an availability issue, it does not specifically violate data integrity. A non-operational DNS server disrupts access to network resources, but it does not inherently alter the data itself, which is a key aspect of integrity.

C (A company has an unacceptably high network downtime during high-traffic time periods.) YOUR ANSWER

Similar to option B, this scenario primarily reflects a problem with availability rather than integrity. High network downtime limits access to data and services but does not change the data's correctness or reliability, which is central to integrity.

D (A company stores sensitive customer data without access controls.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice highlights a significant availability and confidentiality issue but does not directly affect data integrity. Lack of access controls may allow unauthorized users to view or steal data, yet it does not necessarily alter the data itself, which is essential for assessing integrity violations.

Conclusion

The integrity component of the CIA triad focuses on the accuracy and reliability of data. The scenario where an employee accidentally modifies a customer account demonstrates a clear breach of this integrity, as it results in data corruption. Other options primarily address issues of availability or confidentiality, which do not directly threaten the integrity of the data itself. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for maintaining a robust security posture in any organization.

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