What is meant by 'Confidentiality' in a data protection context?

In the context of data protection, 'Confidentiality' refers to the principle of ensuring that sensitive information is only accessible to those who are authorized to view it. This is crucial for maintaining trust and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. By limiting access to sensitive data, organizations can protect it from unauthorized users, thereby reducing the risk of data breaches, identity theft, and other forms of information misuse.

Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of data security and is often implemented through various measures such as access controls, encryption, and secure communication channels. These protective measures help ensure that sensitive data, which can include personal information, financial records, and proprietary business information, remains restricted to authorized individuals or entities.

The other options highlight different aspects of data management and protection, but they do not align with the specific definition of confidentiality. For example, ensuring data accuracy pertains to integrity, and enhancing recovery procedures relates to availability. In contrast, making information publicly accessible contradicts the concept of confidentiality, as it would remove restrictions on access, allowing anyone to view the data.