Which of the following is NOT a method to ensure confidentiality?

The choice of public network access as the correct answer is significant because it represents a method that does not inherently protect confidentiality. Confidentiality refers to the principle of keeping sensitive information secret and ensuring that unauthorized individuals cannot access it.

By contrast, encryption, access controls, and data masking are all effective methods for ensuring the confidentiality of data.

Encryption secures data by transforming it into a format that can only be read by someone who possesses the correct decryption key. This makes it difficult for an unauthorized party to interpret any intercepted data.

Access controls determine who has permission to view or access data, thereby preventing unauthorized access. They can be implemented through various means, such as user authentication and role-based access, which permit only sanctioned individuals to view sensitive information.

Data masking involves altering data in such a way that it can be used for testing or processing without exposing the actual, sensitive information. This allows organizations to utilize the data without risking its confidentiality.

In contrast, public network access lacks any built-in security measures to protect the data being transmitted. Using public networks for sensitive information increases exposure to potential interception and unauthorized access, thus compromising confidentiality.