The invention describes a system for detecting partial changes to data-structures of interest. If an inter-related set of data items are to be used then it is of value to know that the data items are undergoing changes, and thus may not be self consistent, and/or have been tampered with and/or are not the most recent update. The invention uses GUIDS to track updates by assigning a GUID to a selected set of nodes or items belonging to an identified set, preferably arranged in a tree structure. A new GUID is generated whenever an update takes place. Methods are defined to test that the interrelated data items are valid, i.e., replicated into, by testing for changes in the GUID by traversing the interrelated data items and comparing GUIDs at each node. Similarly, methods are provided for generating a new GUID in course of inititiating an update, or in order to invalidate an intererlated data item set, and additional methods are envisaged for catering to particular applications such as assuring integrity of the data by using encryption and certificates.