In a cloud environment, encryption should be used for all the following, except:

In a cloud environment, encryption is crucial for safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining data integrity. Each of the scenarios presented highlights instances where encryption is typically employed for enhanced security.

The scenario involving profile formatting does not necessitate encryption in the same manner as the others. Profile formatting is often related to organizing and preparing data for use, rather than being a storage or transmission method for sensitive information. It is more about the structure and presentation of data rather than protecting the data itself, making it less critical from a security standpoint compared to the other options.

In contrast, the long-term storage of data, near-term storage of virtualized images, and secure sessions/VPN all represent areas where encryption plays a vital role in protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access and ensuring confidentiality during storage and transmission. Therefore, profile formatting does not align with the same level of security sensitivity and risk as the other options, making it the least likely to require encryption in a cloud environment.