Meaning
The cryptographic process of encoding information so that only authorized parties with a secret key can access and read it.
Three examples from work
Compliance audit
AuditorDoes the system maintain encryption at rest for customer credit card numbers?
LeadWe use AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS 1.3 for all data in transit.
Database architecture
DevShould we encrypt the entire database volume or use column-level encryption?
Security OfficerUse full disk encryption for everything, plus field encryption for personal tax IDs.
Client security review
Enterprise ClientDo your backup archives support end-to-end encryption?
Tech LeadYes, backup snapshots are encrypted with customer-managed keys before upload.
Key distinctions: 'encryption in transit' (protecting data moving over the network) and 'encryption at rest' (protecting data stored on disks).