What is data leakage?

Data leakage refers to the unauthorized transfer of sensitive information from within an organization to an external destination or recipient. This can occur intentionally or accidentally and often involves confidential data such as personal information, intellectual property, or financial records. Data leakage poses significant security risks as it can lead to data breaches, loss of competitive advantage, and regulatory penalties depending on the nature of the exposed information.

In the context of the other choices, it is important to recognize the distinctions. Backing up data to prevent loss is a security measure aimed at data preservation, securing data through encryption focuses on protecting data integrity and confidentiality during transmission or storage, and archiving data for future use is related to data management rather than unauthorized access or transfer. Therefore, the focus on unauthorized transfer in the correct answer highlights the critical issue of data security and the need for organizations to mitigate such risks through effective data governance and security practices.