Which of the following is a benefit of using encryption?

Using encryption provides a crucial layer of protection for sensitive data, making it significantly more difficult for unauthorized users to access or decipher that information. By transforming readable data into an unreadable format through mathematical algorithms, encryption ensures that even if a data breach occurs, the exposed data remains secure and inaccessible without the correct decryption key. This is especially important in today's security landscape where data breaches can lead to severe financial, legal, and reputational damage for organizations.

While other options touch on various aspects of data management, they do not accurately represent the primary function of encryption. For instance, encryption doesn’t inherently simplify data sharing; in fact, it may complicate it since both parties need to manage encryption keys. Similarly, encryption does not typically reduce file size, as it may actually increase it due to the nature of the data transformation. Lastly, while secure data can be easier to manage, encryption itself doesn't guarantee easier retrieval, as the requirement to decrypt the data can add an extra step to the process. Thus, the main benefit of using encryption lies in its ability to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access, making it an essential security measure in safeguarding data integrity.