Which method is primarily used to protect data at rest?

End-to-end encryption is the most appropriate method for protecting data at rest because it ensures that the information is encrypted while it is stored on a device or server. This means that unauthorized users cannot access the data without the decryption keys. Data at rest refers to inactive data stored physically in any digital form (like databases, data warehouses, or file systems) and is often a target for attackers since it can contain sensitive information.

While firewalls are important for monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic to prevent unauthorized access, they do not specifically protect the data that is stored. Data obfuscation can help make data unreadable or less meaningful but does not securely encrypt it, leaving it potentially vulnerable. Physical security measures are essential for protecting hardware and preventing unauthorized access to the physical location where data is stored, but they do not address the encryption or security of the data itself once access is gained. Thus, end-to-end encryption specifically targets the protection of the data itself while it is at rest.