What does Sophos' data encryption feature safeguard?

The data encryption feature provided by Sophos is designed to protect all sensitive data across devices, making it essential for organizations that handle confidential or regulated information. By encrypting sensitive data, Sophos ensures that even if the data is accessed by unauthorized individuals, it remains unreadable without the proper decryption keys. This level of protection is crucial in preventing data breaches and maintaining compliance with data protection regulations.

The ability to safeguard data across devices means that regardless of where the data is located—whether it's on laptops, desktops, or other endpoints—the encryption feature ensures comprehensive protection. Organizations can rest assured that their sensitive information remains secure, regardless of how or where it is accessed.

In this context, the other options fall short. Only files stored locally would neglect data that may be stored in a cloud environment or accessed via different devices. Publicly available data does not require encryption as it is intended to be accessible, and data not residing on endpoints doesn't fall within the scope of endpoints security that encryption would typically address. Thus, properly implemented encryption by Sophos speaks to a holistic approach to data security, encompassing all sensitive data across devices.