What is data integrity and how is it maintained in inquiries?

• A. Data accuracy and consistency throughout its lifecycle; maintained by validation, audits, and secure systems.
• B. Data integrity is achieved by deleting old data regularly.
• C. Data integrity is irrelevant to inquiries.
• D. Data integrity can be ensured by random guessing.

Answer: (A)

Data integrity means keeping information accurate, complete, and consistent throughout its lifecycle so inquiries yield trustworthy results. It’s maintained by validating data at entry and during processing to catch mistakes, conducting audits to detect unauthorized or unintended changes, and using secure systems and access controls to prevent tampering or corruption. This combination ensures data remains reliable when it’s retrieved and used. Deleting old data, claiming integrity is irrelevant, or guessing values does not preserve accuracy or consistency.