Which process involves creating separate areas on a storage device?

The process that involves creating separate areas on a storage device is formatting. When a storage device is formatted, it prepares the device for use by the operating system. This includes dividing the disk into specific sections, or partitions, that can be independently accessed and managed. Each partition can serve different purposes, such as running different operating systems or organizing files in a structured manner.

Formatting also initializes the file system, which determines how data is stored and retrieved. This organization is crucial for effective space management and ensures that the device operates efficiently. The formatting process can also include labeling the partitions and establishing different file storage protocols for each, which is why it is the correct answer in this context.

The other processes listed—backing up, defragmenting, and encrypting—serve different functions. Backing up refers to copying data to prevent loss, defragmenting reorganizes data on the disk for better access speed, and encrypting secures data by converting it into a coded format. None of these specifically create separate areas on the storage device as formatting does.