Integrity applies to data in which states?

• A. Active use, stored, and transferred.
• B. Only in storage.
• C. Only in transit.
• D. Only during processing.

Answer: (A)

Data integrity means information stays accurate, complete, and unchanged from its source as it moves through its life cycle. Integrity must hold in every state: when data is actively used or processed, when it is stored, and when it is transferred between systems. That’s why the option covering active use, storage, and transfer is the best choice—it reflects maintaining data integrity across all three states, ensuring no modification or corruption occurs at any point. If integrity were limited to one state, such as only storage, data could be altered during transmission or while in use without detection, undermining trust and reliability.