👉 Guard computing is a security mechanism designed to protect data at rest by encrypting it with a key that is known only to the guard, a trusted entity or individual. This guard key is separate from the encryption key used to encrypt the actual data, ensuring that even if an attacker gains access to the encrypted data, they cannot decrypt it without the guard's key. The guard acts as a trusted intermediary, managing the encryption and decryption processes, thus providing an additional layer of security. This approach minimizes the risk associated with key management and enhances overall data protection by isolating the encryption keys from potential breaches in the system where the actual data is stored.