The technology that underpins data encryption protocols primarily includes cryptographic algorithms and key management techniques. Algorithms such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) are commonly used to secure data in transit and at rest. These protocols ensure that sensitive information is transformed into unreadable formats, requiring specific keys for decryption by authorized parties. Robust key management practices secure encryption keys, ensuring they are kept safe from unauthorized access or compromise, thus maintaining the integrity of encrypted data across networks.