Score Big on the 2026 PLTW Cybersecurity EOC Test – Your Firewall to Success!

The function of encryption is best described as preventing unauthorized access by converting data into a secure format. Encryption works by using algorithms to transform data into an unreadable format, which can only be reverted to a readable format with a specific key or password. This process ensures that even if the data is intercepted or accessed without permission, it remains indecipherable and thus secure from unauthorized users.

Encryption plays a critical role in protecting sensitive information, such as personal data, financial transactions, or communication, particularly in environments where data is regularly transmitted across networks. By ensuring that only individuals with the appropriate credentials can access the original data, encryption effectively safeguards against data breaches, cyber-attacks, and other security threats.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary function of encryption. Creating temporary access spaces on servers does not pertain to data confidentiality and does not involve transforming data into a secure format. Enhancing the loading speed of applications is unrelated to encryption, as encryption typically adds overhead rather than improving application performance. Simplifying data sharing among organizations may be a secondary benefit of encryption, but it does not directly address the mechanism of securing data, which is the core purpose of encryption.