What is the role of version control in an organization?

Version control plays a pivotal role in an organization by tracking and managing changes to documents, software code, and other collections of information. Its primary function is to maintain a history of modifications made over time, allowing for better oversight and management of changes. Among the listed options, the emphasis on preventing accidental changes by authorized users highlights a significant aspect of version control systems.

By allowing users to track changes, revert to previous versions if necessary, and see a complete history, version control minimizes the risk of unintended alterations. This is particularly crucial in collaborative environments where multiple individuals might be making changes simultaneously. It ensures that only intentional and approved modifications are incorporated into the final product.

Additionally, while other options might touch upon related concepts within the broader realm of software management, they do not fully capture the primary responsibility of version control systems focused on change management. For instance, encrypting data is more about security rather than version oversight. Managing software releases involves more than just maintaining version histories, and ensuring data backup is a separate aspect of data protection and not the core function of version control.