Which statement about data integrity is most accurate?

Which statement about data integrity is most accurate?

• A. Security of data at rest
• B. Accuracy and consistency of data across the lifecycle
• C. Speed of processing data
• D. Accessibility of data to all users

Answer: (B)

Data integrity means keeping data accurate, complete, and consistent as it moves through its life—from capture to storage, processing, and use. The best statement is the one that emphasizes accuracy and consistency across the entire lifecycle, because integrity is about ensuring that data remains correct and unchanged in unintended ways as it is created, transformed, and moved between systems. This includes validating inputs, maintaining referential integrity in databases, preventing unauthorized alterations, and reconciling data across different platforms so that the same data matches everywhere it’s used. The other aspects mentioned—security of data at rest, speed of processing, and accessibility—relate to security, performance, and availability, which are important but describe different properties, not integrity.

Data integrity means keeping data accurate, complete, and consistent as it moves through its life—from capture to storage, processing, and use. The best statement is the one that emphasizes accuracy and consistency across the entire lifecycle, because integrity is about ensuring that data remains correct and unchanged in unintended ways as it is created, transformed, and moved between systems. This includes validating inputs, maintaining referential integrity in databases, preventing unauthorized alterations, and reconciling data across different platforms so that the same data matches everywhere it’s used. The other aspects mentioned—security of data at rest, speed of processing, and accessibility—relate to security, performance, and availability, which are important but describe different properties, not integrity.