How does data encryption protect information?

Data encryption protects information by converting it into a coded format that can only be read by someone who has the decryption key. This transformation ensures that even if unauthorized individuals gain access to the encrypted data, they will only see a meaningless string of characters rather than the actual content. The process makes it exceedingly difficult for any malicious actors to decipher the data without the appropriate key.

While storing data on a secure server, creating backups, or limiting access can also enhance security, these methods do not protect the actual content of the data in the same way that encryption does. For example, if an attacker gains access to a secure server, they could still read unencrypted data. Backups can protect against data loss, but they do not provide protection from unauthorized access to the information itself. Limiting access is essential for security but does not provide confidentiality for that data if it is accessed by an insider who shouldn’t have access to it.