How should PREA data be protected from tampering?

• A. Use secure databases, access controls, audit trails, and restricted sharing.
• B. Leave data openly accessible to all staff.
• C. Store data on personal devices.
• D. Never keep audit trails.

Answer: (A)

Protecting PREA data from tampering relies on maintaining data integrity, confidentiality, and clear accountability. Using secure databases with strong access controls ensures only authorized staff can view or modify records, reducing the risk of unauthorized changes. Audit trails record who accessed or altered data and when, creating a traceable history that helps detect tampering and deters it. Restricted sharing further limits who can see sensitive information, lowering the chance of accidental or intentional manipulation. Together, these practices keep PREA records trustworthy, support accurate reporting and investigations, and meet compliance expectations.

Other approaches undermine security: leaving data openly accessible invites unauthorized changes; storing data on personal devices bypasses centralized protections and can lead to loss or theft; and never keeping audit trails removes the mechanism that reveals or prevents tampering and weakens accountability.