Question 44

Confidentiality

Applying encryption to sensitive data primarily ensures confidentiality, which protects information from unauthorized access and disclosure.

A) Confidentiality

This option is correct because confidentiality is a fundamental security principle that aims to keep sensitive information secret from unauthorized users. By using encryption, data is transformed into a format that can only be read by those who possess the appropriate decryption key, thus maintaining its confidentiality.

B) Non-repudiation

Non-repudiation refers to the assurance that someone cannot deny the validity of their signature or the sending of a message. While encryption can support non-repudiation through digital signatures, it does not directly address the issue of protecting data from unauthorized access, making this option incorrect in the context of the question.

C) Availability

Availability is the principle that ensures that information and resources are accessible to authorized users when needed. Encryption does not inherently improve availability; rather, it can sometimes complicate access if keys are lost or forgotten. Therefore, this option is not relevant to the question regarding encryption.

D) Integrity

Integrity involves maintaining the accuracy and consistency of data over its lifecycle. While encryption can help protect data from being altered by unauthorized parties, it does not directly guarantee integrity. Options like hashing are more appropriate for ensuring data integrity, which makes this option incorrect in this context.

Conclusion

The correct answer is confidentiality, as encryption specifically serves to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. Other options, such as non-repudiation, availability, and integrity, address different aspects of data security that do not directly relate to the primary function of encryption. Thus, confidentiality remains the key focus when discussing encryption techniques.