Which of the following is a key mechanism for protecting data?

access control
auditing
authentication
all of the mentioned

The correct answer is D. all of the mentioned.

Access control is a system that limits access to data and resources to authorized users only. Auditing is a process of tracking and recording user activity to ensure that data is being accessed and used appropriately. Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user before granting them access to data or resources.

All three of these mechanisms are essential for protecting data. Access control prevents unauthorized users from accessing data, auditing helps to identify and prevent unauthorized access, and authentication ensures that only authorized users are able to access data.

In addition to these three mechanisms, there are a number of other security measures that can be used to protect data, such as encryption, data backup, and disaster recovery.