Which of the following best describes breaches in information security?

The choice that best describes breaches in information security is incidents allowing unauthorized changes. This definition is fundamental to understanding what constitutes a breach. A breach typically refers to an event in which unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive information, systems, or networks, resulting in alterations, deletions, or exposure of data.

When unauthorized changes occur, they often lead to significant security risks, including data loss, data theft, and the potential for further exploitation of vulnerabilities. This concept aligns closely with the overarching goal of information security, which is to protect the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of data. Breaches represent a violation of the security measures in place and can lead to severe consequences for organizations, such as regulatory penalties, loss of reputation, and financial loss.

The other choices, while they pertain to aspects of information technology and security, do not accurately encapsulate the essence of information security breaches. For example, failures in executing software updates refer more to operational issues rather than breaches, system performance issues typically involve capacity and efficiency rather than unauthorized access, and errors in transaction processing relate specifically to inaccuracies in data handling without implicating unauthorized access or alterations.