CISSP Practice Question: An administrator implements digital signatures to ensure that a sender cannot deny…

Correct Answer: A. Non-repudiation

Explanation (CISSP Manager Logic):

Digital signatures combine integrity and authenticity to ensure that the origin of a message is verifiable and cannot be later denied by the sender. This is a foundational element of legal and technical accountability in secure communications.

By implementing non-repudiation, you:

• Ensure legal defensibility of electronic transactions
• Verify the identity of the message originator
• Confirm that the message content was not altered in transit

While the other options are relevant, they fall short because:

• B: Availability ensures systems are accessible when needed but does not deal with the origin of messages.
• C: Confidentiality prevents unauthorized disclosure but does not prove who sent the information.
• D: Authorization determines what a user can do after their identity is verified, rather than proving they sent a specific message.

Think like a manager:

Accountability and non-repudiation are essential for governance and risk management, as they provide the evidence necessary to hold individuals responsible for their actions within a system.