When you copy folders that have been encrypted through EFS within the same volume, what happens to their encryption?

When folders that have been encrypted through the Encrypting File System (EFS) are copied within the same volume, they retain their encryption. The EFS maintains the security of the files and folders by ensuring that any copies made will have the same encryption attributes as the originals. This behavior is integral to EFS's purpose—protecting sensitive information by ensuring it remains secure even when duplicated.

The reason for this is that EFS utilizes a combination of user keys and file attributes to encrypt data. When you copy an encrypted file or folder, the new copy retains the original encryption metadata, which means only authorized users can access the contents of these files or folders, ensuring that the security measures in place are not compromised during the copying process. Thus, the crucial aspect of EFS is its ability to maintain encryption across file operations, providing a consistent level of security.