In managing cloud storage, which type of encryption ensures data confidentiality at rest?

In the context of managing cloud storage, server-side encryption is crucial for ensuring data confidentiality at rest. This type of encryption is applied by the service provider to data once it is stored in their systems, meaning that the data is encrypted on the server before it is saved to disk. This ensures that even if unauthorized access occurs, the data remains unreadable without the proper decryption keys held by the cloud service provider.

Server-side encryption protects data indiscriminately since all data stored is encrypted, providing a robust defense against potential breaches, whether they originate from external threats or internal mismanagement. It operates transparently, meaning users do not need to implement encryption processes themselves, making it convenient for organizations that require a secure yet streamlined approach to data management.

Client-side encryption, on the other hand, involves the user encrypting data before it reaches the server, which can be beneficial for ensuring confidentiality but places the burden of key management and maintenance on the user. Database encryption can refer to encryption of specific databases within the server but does not necessarily cover all data stored in cloud systems uniformly. Transport encryption is used to secure data in transit between the client and server rather than protecting data that is stored at rest. Thus, server-side encryption is specifically designed to maintain confidentiality