What is the difference between "data encryption at rest" and "data encryption in transit"?

The correct distinction between "data encryption at rest" and "data encryption in transit" lies in the nature of the data being secured and the context in which that security is applied. Encryption at rest refers to the practice of applying cryptographic protection to data that is stored on a physical medium, such as hard drives, databases, or cloud storage. This type of encryption ensures that even if unauthorized individuals gain access to the physical storage medium, they cannot read or make sense of the data without the appropriate decryption keys.

On the other hand, encryption in transit focuses on securing data as it moves from one location to another, typically over a network. This ensures that data traveling between devices, such as from a user's computer to a server, remains confidential and integral during its transmission. By encrypting data in transit, it becomes much more difficult for interceptors to access or compromise the information while it is being sent across potentially unsecured networks.

This distinction highlights the specific security measures needed for different states of data. The other options do not accurately capture the core differences in usage and application of encryption methods for data at rest versus data in transit.