A data authentication technique is provided for a data access control function of an integrated system. The technique includes passing a data request from a functional master of the integrated system through the data access control function, and responsive to the data request, selectively authenticating requested data. The selective authentication, which can occur transparent to the functional master initiating the data request, includes employing integrity value generation on the requested data when originally stored and when retrieved, in combination with encryption and decryption thereof to ensure the authenticity of the requested data. As an enhancement, cascading integrity values may be employed to facilitate data authentication.