Information Security: Ensuring Message Integrity

Message Integrity in Information Security

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Question

Related to information security, the guarantee that the message sent is the message received with the assurance that the message was not intentionally or unintentionally altered is an example of which of the following?

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A.

Integrity is the guarantee that the message sent is the message received, and that the message was not intentionally or unintentionally altered.

Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L.

& VINES, Russel.

D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Page 60.

The guarantee that the message sent is the message received without any intentional or unintentional alteration is an example of integrity in information security.

Integrity is one of the fundamental principles of information security, and it refers to the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of data throughout its lifecycle. Maintaining integrity ensures that the data has not been tampered with, corrupted, or otherwise modified without authorization.

In the context of messaging or communication systems, integrity is critical because it ensures that the intended recipient receives the correct message without any changes. Without integrity, an attacker could intercept and modify the message, leading to potentially harmful consequences. Therefore, ensuring the integrity of information is essential for maintaining the confidentiality and availability of data.

Confidentiality, on the other hand, refers to the protection of sensitive information from unauthorized disclosure. Confidentiality ensures that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive information, and it is often achieved through encryption, access controls, and other security measures.

Availability refers to the ability of authorized users to access information and resources when needed. Availability ensures that the information is accessible and usable by authorized users and is often achieved through redundancy, fault tolerance, and disaster recovery planning.

Identity refers to the unique identification of individuals or entities in a system. It is often achieved through authentication and access controls and is essential for ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive information and resources.

In summary, the guarantee that the message sent is the message received without alteration is an example of integrity in information security. Confidentiality, availability, and identity are also essential principles of information security, but they are not directly related to the assurance that a message has not been altered.