What characteristic of a system guarantees that data is only accessible to authorized individuals?

• A. Integrity
• B. Privacy
• C. Confidentiality
• D. Accountability

Answer: (C)

The characteristic of a system that ensures data is only accessible to authorized individuals is confidentiality. Confidentiality involves measures and protocols that protect sensitive information from being accessed by individuals or entities that do not have the appropriate permissions. This typically includes mechanisms like encryption, access controls, and authentication, which collectively safeguard the information from unauthorized access.

In the context of information security, maintaining confidentiality is crucial for protecting personal data and proprietary information, ensuring that only those who have been granted explicit rights can view or manipulate the data. This helps organizations to comply with regulatory requirements and to maintain trust with consumers and stakeholders regarding how their data is handled.

While integrity, privacy, and accountability are also important aspects of information security, they serve different purposes. Integrity refers to the accuracy and reliability of data, privacy concerns the rights individuals have over their personal information, and accountability relates to the ability to trace actions back to individuals or entities. In this case, confidentiality directly addresses the issue of data access, making it the most appropriate choice.