What process makes a file's data readable and usable to authorized viewers?

The process that makes a file's data readable and usable to authorized viewers is encryption. Encryption transforms data into a format that is not easily readable or understandable without the appropriate decryption key or mechanism. This security measure ensures that only individuals or systems with the proper authorization can access the original content of the file, thus maintaining confidentiality and integrity.

When data is encrypted, even if unauthorized parties access it, the information remains unintelligible. The authorized viewers can decrypt the data using the designated keys or passwords, rendering the content accessible and usable for legitimate purposes. This is particularly important in securing personal information, financial data, and sensitive corporate information against unauthorized access.

In contrast, while archiving stores data for long-term retention, compressing reduces file size for easier storage or transfer, and deduplicating removes duplicate copies of data to save space, none of these processes inherently provide the level of security that encryption does in terms of controlling who can read and utilize the data.