Which of the following is a benefit of encrypting data at rest?

Encrypting data at rest significantly enhances the confidentiality of sensitive information. When data is stored in an unencrypted format, it can be easily accessed by unauthorized users, leading to potential data breaches and loss of privacy. By implementing encryption, the data is transformed into a format that is unreadable without the proper decryption keys. This means that even if an attacker gains physical access to the storage medium, they cannot interpret the data without the necessary credentials, effectively safeguarding sensitive information from unauthorized access and exposure.

The other options do not accurately represent the primary benefits of encrypting data at rest. Encryption typically does not increase processing speed or reduce storage costs; in fact, it may slightly decrease processing speed due to the extra computational effort required for encryption and decryption processes. Additionally, encrypting data does not improve visual formatting; it changes the data into a scrambled form that requires specific decryption to read, which may not have any visual representation until it is decrypted. Thus, the primary advantage lies in protecting the confidentiality of sensitive data.