Which type of data would be lost if a system is powered down?

Volatile data is the type of data that would be lost if a system is powered down. This kind of data is typically stored in the system's RAM (Random Access Memory), which is temporary storage that requires power to maintain the information. When the power is turned off, the stored data in RAM is erased, leading to a complete loss of any volatile data.

In contrast, non-volatile data is stored on permanent storage devices, such as hard drives or solid-state drives, and remains intact even when the system loses power. Archival data, which is a subset of non-volatile data, specifically refers to information that has been preserved for long-term storage and future reference, ensuring its availability regardless of the system's power state. Encrypted data can reside in either volatile or non-volatile storage; therefore, the encryption does not determine its volatility but rather its security during storage.