Which security concept ensures encrypted data isn't altered in transit?
Short answer
B Integrity
Question
Key Takeaways
This question tests the CIA triad, specifically the difference between integrity and confidentiality, with the common trap being to confuse 'encrypted' with 'confidential' when the question actually focuses on unauthorized modification.
In CompTIA Network+ N10-008, integrity is the security concept that ensures encrypted data is not edited or tampered with during transmission. Community consensus strongly confirms integrity (option B) as the correct answer.
Common mistake: Choosing D (Confidentiality) is the most common mistake because encrypted data may seem to relate to keeping data secret; however, encryption can also be used to detect tampering, and the phrase 'not edited' directly points to integrity, not confidentiality.
Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
Integrity in the CIA triad guarantees that data remains unchanged and unaltered from its original state during transmission. Even when data is encrypted, integrity ensures that no unauthorized party has modified the ciphertext or plaintext in transit. The question explicitly asks about 'ensuring encrypted data is not edited while in transit,' which maps directly to the integrity concept.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
- A. Zero trust is a security framework that assumes no implicit trust and verifies every request, but it is not a property of data or a guarantee against data modification.
- C. Availability ensures that systems/data are accessible to authorized users when needed, which is unrelated to preventing edits during transit.
- D. Confidentiality protects data from unauthorized disclosure or reading, not from unauthorized modification. While encryption supports confidentiality, integrity is the specific concept for tamper resistance.
Community Comment Notes
A certified user commented, "sec+ certified, it's B," reinforcing the correct choice with real-world exam knowledge. Another comment (attributed to GPT4) explains that integrity ensures the information arrives exactly as sent without unauthorized modifications—matching the question's intent. The 100% vote distribution for B further shows unanimous agreement among respondents.
Official Reference
- https://www.comptia.org/certifications/network
- https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/integrity
- https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/confidentiality
These links open the official vendor documentation in a new tab.
Exam Strategy
When you see phrases like 'not edited,' 'tampered with,' or 'unaltered' in transit, immediately think of integrity rather than confidentiality. Remember the CIA triad: Confidentiality = secrecy, Integrity = accuracy/trustworthiness, Availability = access. Read the question for action words—'edited' always signals integrity.
Community Votes
100% of anonymous learners picked answer B. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Discussion 3 contributions
Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.
From public community threads 3
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study22024 👍 3B. Integrity (GPT4) Integrity in the context of cybersecurity refers to the assurance that data is not altered or tampered with in transit. It ensures that the information sent from the source arrives at the destination exactly as it was sent, without any unauthorized modifications. This is an essential security concept for encrypted data to ensure that it remains trustworthy and unaltered during transmission.
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Popeyes_Chicken 👍 4sec+ certified, it's B.
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Sarmad_Mansour 👍 1 Answered BB: Integrity
Reader comments & corrections
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