Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) Practice Exam

What is a primary purpose of encryption in cloud computing?

1. To improve performance

2. To prevent unauthorized access

3. To reduce costs

4. To simplify management

The correct answer is: To prevent unauthorized access

The primary purpose of encryption in cloud computing is to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. When data is stored in the cloud, it becomes potentially accessible to various users and systems, which raises concerns about the confidentiality and integrity of that data. Encryption ensures that even if unauthorized individuals gain access to the data, they would only see encrypted information that cannot be understood without the appropriate decryption keys. This process is essential for protecting personal information, intellectual property, and any other sensitive data, thus maintaining users' trust in the cloud service provider and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements related to data protection and privacy. While improving performance, reducing costs, and simplifying management are important considerations in cloud computing, they do not directly address the critical need for data protection that encryption fulfills.