What type of encryption does NCIC ensure for data transmission?

The correct response highlights that NCIC ensures secure and encrypted transmission of data. This is crucial for maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information shared among law enforcement agencies. Encryption protects data from unauthorized access during transmission by converting it into an unreadable format that can only be deciphered by authorized users with the correct decryption key. This protects against interception and ensures that sensitive criminal justice information remains secure when transmitted over networks.

In contrast, open encryption implies a lack of security, while no encryption would leave data vulnerable to interception and misuse. Basic password protection alone does not guarantee the level of security required for sensitive data transmitted through NCIC, as it does not protect data in transit from being intercepted and does not provide the same level of security that encryption does.