Which security element prevents unauthorized changes to data or resources?

Integrity is the security element that specifically focuses on preventing unauthorized changes to data or resources. It ensures that data remains accurate, consistent, and trustworthy throughout its lifecycle. This means that if data is altered, it can be detected, and the integrity measures can verify whether it has been compromised or modified by unauthorized individuals.

To maintain integrity, organizations often implement controls such as hashing, checksums, and digital signatures. These techniques can help in verifying that the data has not been tampered with and is in the same state as when it was originally created or intended to be used. By ensuring integrity, organizations protect the trustworthiness of their data, which is crucial for decision-making processes and compliance requirements.

The other options, while important aspects of information security, do not directly address the issue of unauthorized changes. Authenticity verifies the identity of users or systems but does not prevent modifications to data. Non-repudiation ensures that actions cannot be denied after they have occurred, but it does not inherently prevent changes. Availability focuses on ensuring that systems and data are accessible when needed but does not relate to the integrity of the data itself.