Data security primarily focuses on what aspect of information management?

Data security is fundamentally concerned with protecting data from unauthorized access. This includes measures and protocols to ensure that sensitive information is accessible only to those who have the proper permissions and that it remains intact and confidential. Unauthorized access can lead to data breaches, loss of intellectual property, and exposure of personal information, resulting in severe consequences for individuals and organizations alike.

While enhancing speed of data access, securely transferring data, and reducing storage costs are important aspects of information management, they do not specifically address the core objective of data security, which is to safeguard data integrity and prevent unauthorized interactions with that data. The primary goal of data security mechanisms—such as encryption, access controls, and authentication protocols—is to prevent unauthorized users from accessing, altering, or damaging data. Hence, focusing on protecting data from unauthorized access is the essence of data security.