What distinguishes data at rest from data in transit?

The distinction between data at rest and data in transit is fundamentally based on the state and activity of the data. Data at rest refers to information that is stored on a physical medium such as a hard drive, SSD, or other storage devices. This data is not actively being used or moved; it exists in a stable state, just waiting to be accessed when needed.

On the other hand, data in transit refers to information that is actively being transmitted from one location to another, such as across a network or the internet. During this phase, the data is subject to various vulnerabilities as it travels between its source and destination.

Understanding this difference is crucial in cybersecurity, as different security measures are applied depending on whether data is at rest or in transit. For example, encryption methods may differ and specific protocols are implemented to ensure data security based on its state. This is why the characteristic that identifies data at rest as stored and data in transit as being transmitted is the correct choice.