Which security property ensures data is accessible only to authorized users?

• A. Availability
• B. Confidentiality
• C. Integrity
• D. Authentication

Answer: (B)

Confidentiality ensures that data is accessible only to authorized users. It guards against disclosure to anyone who isn’t permitted to see it, typically through access controls, authentication, and encryption. For instance, protecting a sensitive file with encryption means that only someone with the key (an authorized user) can read it. Availability would be about ensuring access when needed, not restricting who can access; integrity concerns whether data has been altered or tampered with; authentication is the process of verifying identity, which enables enforcing confidentiality but is not the property itself.