The Clark-Wilson model involves two primary elements for achieving data integrity — the well-formed transaction and separation of duties. Well-formed transactions prevent users from manipulating data, thus ensuring the internal consistency of data. Separation of duties prevents authorized users from making improper modifications, thus preserving the external consistency of data by ensuring that data in the system reflects the real-world data it represents.

The model defines the following terms:

TP - transaction procedures. Procedures that take the system from one valid state to another.

IVP - integrity verification procedures. Procedures that test the constrained data items to conform to integrity constraints

CDI - constrained data items. Data subject to integrity controls.

UDI- unconstrained data items. Data not subject to integrity controls

On the other hand, the Biba Integrity Model, NOT the Clark-Wilson model specifies procedures that prevent a subject at a lower level of integrity from invoking a subject at a higher level of integrity.