What type of data does removable media encryption protect?

Removable media encryption specifically protects data that is stored on removable media devices such as USB drives, external hard drives, and other portable storage solutions. The encryption process converts the data into a secure format that prevents unauthorized access, ensuring that even if the physical device is lost or stolen, the information contained within it remains secure and unreadable without the proper decryption key.

This level of protection is crucial for sensitive information that may be transferred between different locations or systems, as it addresses the risks associated with portability. While cloud-stored documents and operating system files contain data that is also important to protect, they are not stored on removable media and thus fall outside the scope of removable media encryption. Software applications, while they may contain critical data, do not directly pertain to the concept of data security for removable media.