Which statement about encryption is correct?

Which statement about encryption is correct?

• A. It masks data only in transit
• B. It is used only for backups
• C. It guarantees privacy for all users automatically
• D. It converts PHI into unreadable format and can be decrypted with the proper key

Answer: (D)

Encryption turns PHI into unreadable ciphertext and requires a proper key to decrypt it. This means only authorized parties with the correct key can read the data, providing confidentiality for PHI. It protects data both at rest and in transit, not just during transmission. It doesn’t automatically guarantee privacy for all users—effective privacy depends on proper key management and secure implementation. It’s not limited to backups; encryption should be used for databases, files, messages, and backups as appropriate.

Encryption turns PHI into unreadable ciphertext and requires a proper key to decrypt it. This means only authorized parties with the correct key can read the data, providing confidentiality for PHI. It protects data both at rest and in transit, not just during transmission. It doesn’t automatically guarantee privacy for all users—effective privacy depends on proper key management and secure implementation. It’s not limited to backups; encryption should be used for databases, files, messages, and backups as appropriate.