What does data integrity refer to?

Data integrity refers to the assurance that data is accurate, consistent, and protected from unauthorized alteration. This concept emphasizes the importance of maintaining the correctness and reliability of data throughout its lifecycle. Ensuring data integrity involves implementing measures to prevent unauthorized changes, whether intentional or accidental, thereby preserving the fidelity of the data.

For example, organizations often use checksums, hashes, or timestamps to verify that data has not been modified in an unauthorized manner. In databases, integrity constraints enforce rules that help maintain accuracy and consistency as records are created, modified, or deleted.

In contrast, backup processes focus primarily on data availability rather than ensuring its accuracy during use. Access speed pertains to performance characteristics, while secure data sharing emphasizes confidentiality rather than the integrity of the data itself. Thus, option A effectively captures the core principles of data integrity.