Which principle is crucial for ensuring security in data transmission?

The principle of integrity is essential for ensuring security in data transmission because it refers to the accuracy and consistency of data during its transfer between systems. Maintaining data integrity means that the information being sent remains unchanged and uncorrupted from its original state throughout the transmission process. This is vital because if data is altered or tampered with during transmission—whether intentionally or accidentally—it can lead to significant security breaches, mistrust in the data, and potential misuse of sensitive information.

Integrity mechanisms such as checksums, hashes, and digital signatures are commonly utilized to ensure that the data arriving at its destination is exactly what was sent. These mechanisms allow for the detection of any alterations made to the data, ensuring that the recipient can verify the authenticity and reliability of the information received.

While data redundancy, accessibility, and scalability are important aspects of data management and systems design, they do not specifically address the core concern of ensuring that data remains unchanged and accurate during its transmission, which is the fundamental focus of data integrity.