A data analyst is tasked with sending a file containing sensitive customer information to an offsite partner. Which of the following is the most effective method to prevent the file's contents from being read if it is intercepted during transfer?
Encrypt the file or the communication channel before transmission.
Verify the file's hash after the transfer is complete.
De-identify the data by masking sensitive fields before sending.
Encrypting the data in transit ensures that if the information is intercepted by an unauthorized party, it remains unreadable and confidential. This can be done by encrypting the file itself or by using a secure, encrypted communication channel like TLS or SFTP. Methods like hashing are used to verify data integrity (i.e., that the data was not altered), not to ensure confidentiality. Access controls based on user roles apply at the endpoints but do not protect data from being read by an eavesdropper during network transit. De-identifying data protects only the specific fields that are masked and may not protect the full content of the file.
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