In computer security, what guarantees that data remains accurate and reliable?

In the context of computer security, integrity refers to the assurance that data remains accurate, consistent, and trustworthy over its entire lifecycle. This means that data cannot be altered or tampered with by unauthorized individuals or processes, ensuring that what is stored in a system accurately reflects the intended information.

Ensuring data integrity typically involves implementing mechanisms such as checksums, hashes, and validation processes that help detect unauthorized changes. Regular audits and monitoring can also contribute to maintaining the integrity of data by providing oversight and early detection of any anomalies.

While other security concepts like confidentiality (which protects data from unauthorized access) and accessibility (which ensures authorized personnel can access data when needed) are important, they do not specifically address the accuracy and reliability of the data itself. Protection, while relevant, is a broader concept that includes safeguarding all aspects of information but does not focus directly on the accuracy of the data provided.