A compromised file in an incident represents a failure in which of the following cybersecurity principles?

A compromised file indicates a failure in the principle of integrity. Integrity refers to the accuracy and trustworthiness of data. When a file is compromised, it suggests that the original data has been altered or tampered with in an unauthorized manner, which directly undermines its integrity.

In the context of cybersecurity, maintaining the integrity of data means ensuring that it is protected from unauthorized changes, whether those are malicious or accidental. If an attacker has successfully compromised a file, they may modify, delete, or insert false information, leading to potential misinformation and loss of trust in the system's data.

Other principles such as confidentiality, authentication, and availability focus on different aspects of cybersecurity. Confidentiality is about ensuring that information is not disclosed to unauthorized individuals, authentication verifies user identities, and availability ensures that data and systems are accessible to authorized users when needed. While these principles are crucial for overall security, the situation described specifically points to a breach in data integrity.