CISSP Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

The Biba model is primarily concerned with ensuring data integrity within a system. This security model introduces mechanisms that prevent unauthorized users from altering data in a way that compromises its accuracy and consistency. The Biba model employs a set of rules that determine how data can be accessed and modified, specifically by establishing clear boundaries for data modification based on user permissions and roles.

The core principle of the Biba model is to prevent the "write-up" and "read-down" actions, which helps to maintain the integrity of high-value information by restricting lower integrity subjects from contaminating the information. This is particularly relevant in environments where data integrity is paramount, such as in databases or during transactions that require accurate records.

In contrast, models that focus on ensuring confidentiality, such as the Bell-LaPadula model, specifically aim to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. Availability is a core principle of security but is not the main focus of the Biba model, as it prioritizes the integrity of the data over whether the data is accessible. Authentication, while important for verifying user identities, is a separate concern that does not directly relate to the integrity-focused objectives of the Biba model. Therefore, the main characteristic of the Biba model is its strong emphasis on maintaining data integrity