What does encryption protect during an incident?

Encryption safeguards sensitive data both at rest and in transit by converting the data into a secure format that is unreadable without the proper decryption key. This means that even if an unauthorized entity gains access to the encrypted data, they would not be able to comprehend it without the decryption key. This is crucial during an incident, as it ensures that sensitive information remains confidential and cannot be exploited or misused, thereby protecting the privacy and integrity of the data involved.

While system integrity is essential for maintaining the overall functionality and trustworthiness of systems, it is not directly protected by encryption. Audit trails are valuable for tracking actions taken in a system but can still be compromised even with encryption. Network bandwidth refers to the amount of data transmitted over a network and is unrelated to the protective capabilities of encryption regarding data security. Therefore, focusing on the protection of sensitive data is where encryption plays a vital role during incidents.