Which of the following elements is crucial in maintaining data integrity within databases?

Access control plays a crucial role in maintaining data integrity within databases because it regulates who can view or manipulate data. By implementing strict access controls, organizations can ensure that only authorized personnel have the ability to enter, modify, or delete data, thereby reducing the risk of accidental or malicious changes. This is essential for protecting the accuracy and reliability of the data stored in a database.

Data analytics, while important for deriving insights from data, does not directly address the protection of the data itself. Data modeling focuses on organizing and structuring data effectively, but it doesn’t ensure that only the right people can manipulate it. Information granularity pertains to the level of detail captured in the data, which is more about data richness than its integrity.

Thus, establishing strong access control mechanisms is fundamental to safeguarding data integrity, as it defends against unauthorized access and ensures that data remains accurate and consistent over time.