What is the primary purpose of cryptography?

The primary purpose of cryptography is to secure information by transforming it into an unreadable format. This process, known as encryption, protects data by making it accessible only to those who have the decryption key. By converting readable information into an unreadable format, cryptography helps ensure confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data. This is vital in various contexts, such as communications, financial transactions, and sensitive data storage, where unauthorized access must be prevented.

The other options focus on different aspects of cybersecurity. Analyzing threats to data security involves a different set of practices, such as threat modeling and risk assessment, rather than the transformation of data. Monitoring network traffic is important for identifying malicious activities but does not secure the information itself. Ensuring compliance with data protection regulations relates to adhering to laws and policies rather than the technical processes of securing data. Thus, transforming data into an unreadable format encapsulates the core function of cryptography effectively.