What is the term for data that is actively being processed or manipulated within a computer?

The term for data that is actively being processed or manipulated within a computer is indeed accurately referred to as "Data in Processing." This designation encompasses any information that is currently being worked on by a computer system, such as data being analyzed, edited, or transformed by applications in real time.

Understanding this concept is crucial in the context of cybersecurity and data management. Data in processing is vulnerable to various threats, including unauthorized access or data corruption, as it is not in a secured state like data at rest or data in transit. Recognizing this helps organizations implement appropriate security measures for protecting data during its active manipulation.

In contrast, data at rest refers to data that is stored and not actively being used, which is subject to a different set of security considerations. Data in transit describes data actively moving across a network, subject to interception during transmission. Data preservation involves the processes used to maintain data integrity over time and does not specifically refer to the active state of data. Understanding these distinctions is important for developing comprehensive data protection strategies.