What is a primary goal in cybersecurity regarding unauthorized access attempts?

The primary goal in cybersecurity concerning unauthorized access attempts is to ensure system integrity. System integrity refers to the assurance that systems and their components are protected from unauthorized access and alteration. Maintaining system integrity involves implementing security measures that prevent unauthorized modifications to the data stored or processed by those systems.

When unauthorized access occurs, it poses a significant risk, as it can lead to data breaches, corruption of data, or malicious alterations that undermine system functionality. Ensuring system integrity encompasses a broad range of practices, including user authentication, access control mechanisms, regular system monitoring, and timely patching of vulnerabilities. By focusing on system integrity, cybersecurity aims to protect the core assets and operations of an organization against threats that seek to exploit vulnerabilities for unauthorized access.

In contrast, while data recovery might be important in response to a security incident, it does not directly prevent unauthorized access attempts. Application security refers specifically to securing software applications and does not encompass the entirety of the system's integrity concerns. Network segmentation serves to isolate different network segments to prevent lateral movement but is more of a tactical defense than a primary goal in the broader context of guarding against unauthorized access.