Which of the following best describes the process of decryption?

Decryption is a fundamental process in the realm of data security and cryptography. It consists of converting encrypted data—i.e., data that has been transformed into a secure or unreadable format—back into its original, understandable format. This allows authorized users to access the information in its original language or representation.

When data is encrypted, it is scrambled using an algorithm and a key to ensure that only those who possess the correct decryption key can revert it to its original state. Therefore, the act of decryption enables the retrieval of the original data, facilitating its use for legitimate purposes such as analysis, reporting, and decision-making while maintaining the integrity and confidentiality that encryption provides.

The other options each describe different processes not related to decryption: encoding data enhances security but does not revert data to its original state; compiling data into a report refers to organizing and summarizing information; and storing data in a cloud service relates to data storage solutions rather than the transformational process of decryption itself.