Information Technology Specialist (ITS) Cybersecurity 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct algorithm that provides data integrity using a one-way mathematical function is SHA-2. SHA-2, which stands for Secure Hash Algorithm 2, encompasses a family of cryptographic hash functions designed to produce a fixed-size output (hash) from any input data, no matter how large. This ability to generate a unique hash value for different data sets is fundamental in maintaining data integrity, as even the slightest change in the input will yield a completely different hash value. This characteristic makes SHA-2 especially valuable in verifying the authenticity of data during transmission or storage.

Although MD5 is also a hashing algorithm that provides data integrity, it is considered less secure than SHA-2 due to its vulnerabilities to collision attacks, where two different inputs can produce the same hash output. AES, on the other hand, is a symmetric encryption algorithm used for data confidentiality, not integrity. RSA is a public-key cryptographic algorithm primarily used for encryption and digital signatures, rather than generating hash values aimed at ensuring data integrity. Thus, SHA-2 stands out as the most appropriate choice for providing data integrity through a one-way mathematical function.