What term refers to the process of safeguarding information against unauthorized access?

The term that refers to the process of safeguarding information against unauthorized access is data security. Data security encompasses a broad range of strategies and measures designed to protect digital data from unauthorized access, theft, or corruption. This can include physical measures, like locks and security cameras, as well as technological measures, such as encryption, access controls, and firewall protections.

Data encryption, while an important aspect of data security, specifically refers to the method of converting information into a coded form to prevent unauthorized access. Encryption is a tool used within the broader framework of data security but does not by itself encompass all aspects of protecting data.

Data validation refers to the process of ensuring that data is accurate and meaningful, primarily to maintain data integrity but does not directly relate to safeguarding it from unauthorized access.

Data retrieval is the process of obtaining stored data from a database or similar source, which is not aimed at protecting data but rather accessing it for use.

Thus, data security is the most comprehensive term that embodies all measures taken to protect information from unauthorized access.