Which aspect of security does the term "integrity" refer to?

Integrity in the context of security specifically refers to the assurance that data has not been altered or tampered with in an unauthorized manner. This concept is crucial because it helps to ensure that the information remains accurate, trustworthy, and reliable. Maintaining the integrity of data is essential when it comes to various applications, particularly in environments where decisions are made based on that data, or where sensitive information must be protected from unauthorized changes. With integrity, users can be confident that the data they are using reflects the true state of affairs.

In contrast, the other choices focus on different aspects of data handling and security. The speed of data transmission relates to performance and network efficiency rather than the security aspect of data integrity. The aesthetic quality of data presentation is concerned with how data is visually represented, which does not speak to its integrity or accuracy. Lastly, accessibility pertains to how easily information can be reached and used by authorized users, but does not address whether the data has been maintained in its original state or not.