Which statement best describes data integrity and security measures in UAS operations?

Which statement best describes data integrity and security measures in UAS operations?

• A. Share flight data openly to stakeholders.
• B. Disable data encryption to speed up transmission.
• C. Encrypt data in transit, protect storage, control access to flight data, and ensure secure telemetry; record and audit data handling.
• D. Store data only on local device with no backups.

Answer: (C)

In UAS operations, protecting data integrity and security means safeguarding both the accuracy of information and who can access it, how it is transmitted, stored, and audited. Encrypting data in transit helps prevent eavesdropping or tampering as it moves between the drone, control station, and any ground servers. Protecting storage ensures that data at rest, such as flight logs, telemetry, and recorded video, isn’t exposed or altered if a device is lost or stolen. Controlling access to flight data with proper permissions reduces the risk that unauthorized individuals can view or modify sensitive information. Ensuring secure telemetry keeps the communication link between the drone and the control system confidential and resistant to tampering, so commands and sensor data aren’t intercepted or corrupted. Recording and auditing data handling provides traceability so you can verify who accessed or changed data and when, which is essential for accountability and post-flight incident analysis. Why the other approaches aren’t suitable: sharing flight data openly undermines confidentiality and can allow tampering or misuse of information. turning off encryption makes data vulnerable to interception and manipulation during transmission. storing data only on a local device with no backups risks data loss or unauthorized access if the device is compromised, and it also eliminates traceability. So, the best description is a holistic approach that covers encryption in transit, secure storage, access control, secure telemetry, and thorough recording and auditing of data handling.

In UAS operations, protecting data integrity and security means safeguarding both the accuracy of information and who can access it, how it is transmitted, stored, and audited. Encrypting data in transit helps prevent eavesdropping or tampering as it moves between the drone, control station, and any ground servers. Protecting storage ensures that data at rest, such as flight logs, telemetry, and recorded video, isn’t exposed or altered if a device is lost or stolen. Controlling access to flight data with proper permissions reduces the risk that unauthorized individuals can view or modify sensitive information. Ensuring secure telemetry keeps the communication link between the drone and the control system confidential and resistant to tampering, so commands and sensor data aren’t intercepted or corrupted. Recording and auditing data handling provides traceability so you can verify who accessed or changed data and when, which is essential for accountability and post-flight incident analysis.

Why the other approaches aren’t suitable: sharing flight data openly undermines confidentiality and can allow tampering or misuse of information. turning off encryption makes data vulnerable to interception and manipulation during transmission. storing data only on a local device with no backups risks data loss or unauthorized access if the device is compromised, and it also eliminates traceability.

So, the best description is a holistic approach that covers encryption in transit, secure storage, access control, secure telemetry, and thorough recording and auditing of data handling.