What is the primary purpose of data encryption at rest?

The primary purpose of data encryption at rest is to protect data stored on devices from unauthorized access. When data is at rest, it resides on a storage device, such as a hard drive, flash drive, or cloud storage. Encrypting this data ensures that, even if someone gains physical access to the device or storage medium, they cannot read or use the data without the proper decryption key.

Encryption at rest safeguards sensitive information like personal identification, financial records, and intellectual property against threats such as data breaches or theft. Even if unauthorized individuals manage to bypass security measures or access the storage directly, the encrypted data remains unintelligible without the appropriate keys or passwords. This level of security is crucial for meeting compliance requirements in various industries and safeguarding customer trust.

Other options focus on different aspects, such as performance or backup processes, which are important but not the primary function of encrypting data at rest. While enhancing system performance and facilitating backups may be beneficial outcomes of a well-implemented encryption strategy, the foremost goal remains the protection of data from unauthorized access.