What does "encryption" achieve in data security?

Encryption is a critical component of data security, primarily because it safeguards information from unauthorized access. By converting data into a format that cannot be easily understood without the correct decryption key, encryption ensures that even if the data is intercepted or accessed by unauthorized users, it remains unreadable and secure. This is essential for protecting sensitive information, such as personal details, financial transactions, and confidential communications, from being exploited by malicious actors.

In contrast, monitoring network traffic, determining maximum data transfer rates, and connecting physical devices to the internet do not directly relate to encryption's primary function of securing data against unauthorized access. While those elements are relevant in the broader context of network security and internet infrastructure, they do not involve the specific mechanism of categorizing data to ensure its confidentiality and integrity, which is the core purpose of encryption.