How is integrity defined in the context of information security?

Integrity in the context of information security refers to ensuring that information is accurate, reliable, and unaltered. This means protecting data from unauthorized modification or destruction, preserving its original state and content. When integrity is maintained, users can trust that the information they are accessing is exactly what it is supposed to be, without any unauthorized changes or tampering.

In an information security framework, integrity is crucial because alterations to data can lead to misinformation, faulty decision-making, or breaches of trust in digital communications. Ensuring integrity is often achieved through various mechanisms like checksums, hashes, and digital signatures, which help verify that data remains unchanged during storage and transmission.

The other choices touch on different aspects of information security but do not encapsulate the specific definition of integrity. For instance, protection from unauthorized access relates more to the confidentiality of information, while reliable access focuses on availability. Verification of origin pertains to authentication and ensuring that information comes from a legitimate source, rather than ensuring the information itself remains unchanged. Thus, the correct answer accurately reflects the essential component of integrity in information security.