Data in MS Excel can be sorted in ascending or descending order using the "Data" option. Let's break down the process step by step:

1. Open MS Excel and navigate to the worksheet containing the data you want to sort.

2. Select the range of cells that you want to sort. This can be a single column, multiple columns, or the entire dataset.

3. Go to the "Data" tab in the Excel ribbon. This tab is located at the top of the Excel window, between the "Formulas" and "Review" tabs.

4. In the "Sort & Filter" section of the "Data" tab, you will find two buttons: "Sort A to Z" and "Sort Z to A". These buttons allow you to sort the selected data in ascending or descending order respectively.

5. If you want to sort the data in ascending order, click on the "Sort A to Z" button. This will rearrange the selected cells in alphabetical or numerical order from lowest to highest.

6. If you want to sort the data in descending order, click on the "Sort Z to A" button. This will rearrange the selected cells in reverse alphabetical or numerical order from highest to lowest.

7. Once you click on either of the buttons, Excel will sort the data based on the values in the selected cells.

8. If you have headers in your data range, Excel will prompt you to select whether the first row contains column headers or not. Make sure to choose the appropriate option to ensure the correct sorting of data.

By using the "Data" option in Excel, you can easily sort your data in ascending or descending order based on your requirements. This feature is particularly useful when you want to organize and analyze your data more effectively.