Storing track data "long term" or "persistently" is permitted when _____________.

The correct choice indicates that storing track data long term or persistently is allowed when it is being stored by issuers. Issuers, typically banks or financial institutions that issue payment cards, have specific regulatory and security considerations that permit them to store certain track data to facilitate transaction processing, prevent fraud, and comply with business requirements. This storage is subject to explicit guidelines and controls laid out in the PCI DSS, as issuers are equipped to handle sensitive data securely and are often bound by additional regulatory frameworks.

The other choices do not align with the PCI DSS stipulations for storing track data. For example, while cloud services may offer security features, simply using them does not inherently allow for long-term storage of sensitive data. Similarly, while encryption is crucial for data protection, storing track data in any form raises compliance concerns unless the context aligns with specific PCI DSS provisions. Lastly, minimizing data to only essential transactions is a best practice for data storage but does not in itself grant permission to store track data long term, as the decision to store such data still hinges on regulatory guidelines and the role of the entity storing it, as in the case of issuers.