Which two aspects should backups employ to minimize exposure to interception and theft?

Which two aspects should backups employ to minimize exposure to interception and theft?

• A. Redundancy and compression
• B. Encryption at rest and in transit
• C. Versioning and archiving
• D. Offline media rotation only

Answer: (B)

Backing up data securely requires protection both when the data is stored and when it’s moving. Encryption at rest keeps backup copies unreadable if the media is stolen or accessed by an unauthorized party, because the data on disks, tapes, or cloud storage is encrypted and behind keys. Encryption in transit protects the data as it travels to offsite locations or between systems, so any interception during transfer doesn’t reveal readable content. Together, these two protections cover the main ways backups can be exposed—whether the media is compromised or data is intercepted during movement. Other options focus on durability, lifecycle, or physical handling rather than keeping the contents unreadable. Redundancy and compression improve availability and efficiency but don’t stop access to the data itself. Versioning and archiving manage historic copies, not security. Offline media rotation helps reduce online exposure, but encryption is still needed to secure the data if media are lost or stolen.

Backing up data securely requires protection both when the data is stored and when it’s moving. Encryption at rest keeps backup copies unreadable if the media is stolen or accessed by an unauthorized party, because the data on disks, tapes, or cloud storage is encrypted and behind keys. Encryption in transit protects the data as it travels to offsite locations or between systems, so any interception during transfer doesn’t reveal readable content. Together, these two protections cover the main ways backups can be exposed—whether the media is compromised or data is intercepted during movement.

Other options focus on durability, lifecycle, or physical handling rather than keeping the contents unreadable. Redundancy and compression improve availability and efficiency but don’t stop access to the data itself. Versioning and archiving manage historic copies, not security. Offline media rotation helps reduce online exposure, but encryption is still needed to secure the data if media are lost or stolen.