What role does encryption play in data protection?

Encryption is a fundamental method in data protection, specifically designed to safeguard sensitive information by transforming plaintext data into a format that is unreadable to unauthorized users. This coded information can only be deciphered back to its original form by those who possess the appropriate decryption key, ensuring confidentiality.

In practice, encryption serves several key purposes: it protects data at rest (such as files stored on a hard drive), data in transit (such as information sent over the internet), and even data processed by applications. By making data unreadable without proper authorization, encryption helps to mitigate the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access, which are critical concerns in today's digital landscape.

Other options mentioned focus on different aspects of data management and security. For instance, monitoring network traffic is related to identifying and analyzing communication patterns but does not inherently protect the confidentiality of data. Authenticating user identities pertains to verifying who can access data rather than safeguarding the data itself. Lastly, backing up data securely ensures that data is recoverable in the event of loss but does not provide ongoing protection against unauthorized access or breaches. Therefore, the role of encryption as a method to convert plaintext into coded information is a direct and essential function in the overall strategy of data protection.