What process protects data from being viewed or changed during modification?

The process that protects data from being viewed or changed during modification is the database lock. Database locking mechanisms are implemented to ensure data integrity when multiple transactions are occurring. When a piece of data is being modified, a lock is placed on that data to prevent other transactions from accessing it simultaneously. This prevents unwanted alterations and ensures that the data remains consistent and secure during the modification process.

Locks can be either exclusive or shared, allowing for controlled access based on the type of operation performed. By enforcing these locks, the system can prevent conflicts and ensure that the operations are completed without interference until the lock is released.

In contrast, the other choices address different aspects of data protection. Data encryption secures data at rest or in transit by converting it into an unreadable format for unauthorized users. Access control manages who can view or modify data based on permissions but does not specifically protect the data during the modification itself. Data validation ensures that the data being entered or modified meets certain criteria or formats but does not prevent concurrent access or changes.