How is integrity defined in information security?

Integrity in information security is defined as the assurance that information is accurate and reliable. This definition emphasizes the importance of maintaining the correctness and trustworthiness of data throughout its lifecycle. Integrity ensures that data is not altered in unauthorized ways, whether through accidental errors or malicious actions.

When integrity is compromised, it could lead to misinformation and misunderstandings that can have serious consequences for organizations and individuals. Therefore, mechanisms like hashing, checksums, and cryptographic signatures are implemented to help verify that data remains unchanged from its original state.

While the other options touch on important aspects of information security, they focus on different areas. For instance, preventing unauthorized access pertains to confidentiality, ensuring only authorized users can access information. Availability refers to making sure that authorized users can access the information when needed, and protection from loss relates to backup and recovery strategies. Each of these elements is crucial, but they serve distinct purposes within the broader framework of information security, whereas integrity specifically protects the accuracy and reliability of the data itself.