What is the primary objective of data integrity?

The primary objective of data integrity is to maintain and assure the accuracy, consistency, and trustworthiness of data over its lifecycle. This encompasses a variety of processes and practices that ensure data remains unchanged and reliable throughout its existence, from its creation to its deletion. Data integrity is crucial because it ensures that the information being used for analysis, reporting, or decision-making reflects the true and intended values, promoting confidence in the data's quality.

Maintaining data integrity also involves safeguarding against unauthorized alterations or corruption during storage, processing, and transmission. Ensuring accuracy allows organizations to make informed decisions based on trustworthy data, which is vital for compliance with privacy regulations and for maintaining the reputation of the organization.

While encryption, limiting access, and updating records are important aspects of data management and security, they serve different purposes and do not directly address the holistic aim of ensuring data is accurate, reliable, and consistent over time. Hence, the focus on accuracy, consistency, and trustworthiness as the defining elements of data integrity is what makes this answer the most appropriate.