What does 'encryption' do in cybersecurity?

Encryption plays a critical role in cybersecurity by transforming data into a coded format, making it unreadable to anyone who does not have the proper decryption key or password. This process is essential for protecting sensitive information, ensuring that even if data is intercepted during transmission or accessed from storage, it cannot be easily understood or utilized by unauthorized individuals. By encrypting data, organizations can safeguard customer information, financial records, and other sensitive data from cyber threats and breaches, thereby maintaining confidentiality and integrity.

The other options provided involve different functions unrelated to the primary goal of encrypting data. While compressing data helps save space, analyzing for malware focuses on security monitoring, and creating backups ensures data recovery, these actions do not provide the same level of access control and data protection that encryption offers. In summary, the primary aim of encryption is to secure data against unauthorized access, fulfilling a fundamental requirement of cybersecurity practices.