When dealing with sensitive data, which encryption method is often employed for data storage?

Symmetric encryption is frequently utilized for data storage, particularly when dealing with sensitive information. This method involves using a single key for both encryption and decryption, which makes it efficient for encrypting large volumes of data. Symmetric encryption algorithms, such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), allow for quick processing, making them suitable for environments where data needs to be accessed frequently and must remain secure.

The choice of symmetric encryption is particularly advantageous because it enables strong security with relatively low computational overhead, which is essential for performance when storing data. It ensures that only those with access to the key can decrypt and access the original data, providing confidentiality and protection against unauthorized access.

In contrast, asymmetric encryption, which uses a pair of public and private keys, is typically more computationally intensive and is often used in scenarios such as secure communications rather than for bulk data storage. Hashing algorithms serve a different purpose, as they are designed to ensure data integrity rather than provide a means of reversible encryption. Tokenization replaces sensitive data with unique identifiers, but it does not provide the same level of encryption directly needed for secure storage of the data itself. Thus, symmetric encryption is the most relevant and effective technique for protecting sensitive data in storage.