What is "file encryption" used to protect?

File encryption is primarily used to protect individual files from unauthorized access. When a file is encrypted, it undergoes a transformation that makes it unreadable without the correct decryption key. This ensures that even if someone accesses the physical storage medium where the file resides, they cannot decipher its contents without the appropriate credentials.

The focus of file encryption is specifically on preventing unauthorized users from viewing or modifying the sensitive information contained within those files. In environments where data sensitivity is paramount, such as in healthcare, finance, or personal information management, file encryption is a crucial safeguard against data breaches and unauthorized disclosures.

Other options—like protecting data integrity during processing, preventing data loss during transmission, and securing user authentication processes—represent distinct aspects of data security but do not align with the specific function of file encryption. Each of those areas has its own set of mechanisms and technologies designed to address those particular concerns.