What is Data Encryption?

Data encryption translates data into another form or code so that only people with access to a secret key (formally called a decryption key) or password can read it. Encrypted data is called ciphertext, while unencrypted data is called plaintext. Encryption is one of organizations’ most popular and effective data security methods. Two main types of data encryption exist – asymmetric encryption, also known as public-key encryption and symmetric encryption.

The Primary Function of Data Encryption

Data encryption protects digital data confidentiality as it is stored on computer systems and transmitted using the Internet or other computer networks. Modern encryption algorithms have replaced the outdated data encryption standard (DES), which is critical to IT systems and communications security.

These algorithms provide confidentiality and drive key security initiatives, including authentication, integrity, and non-repudiation. Authentication allows for verifying a message’s origin, and integrity proves that a message’s contents have not changed since it was sent. Additionally, non-repudiation ensures that a message sender cannot deny sending the message.

How Does Encryption Work

Data, or plaintext, is encrypted with an encryption algorithm and key. The process results in ciphertext, which can only be viewed in its original form if decrypted with the correct key.

Types of encryption

Symmetric-key ciphers use the same secret key for encrypting and decrypting a message or file. While symmetric-key encryption is much faster than asymmetric encryption, the sender must exchange the encryption key with the recipient before he can decrypt it. As companies need to distribute and manage vast quantities of keys securely, most data encryption services have adapted and used an asymmetric algorithm to exchange the secret key after using a symmetric algorithm to encrypt data.

On the other hand, asymmetric cryptography, sometimes called public-key cryptography, uses two different keys, one public and one private. As it is named, the public key may be shared with everyone, but the private key must be protected. The Rivest-Sharmir-Adleman (RSA) algorithm is a cryptosystem for public-key encryption widely used to secure sensitive data, especially when sent over an insecure network like the Internet. The RSA algorithm’s popularity comes from the fact that public and private keys can encrypt a message to assure the confidentiality, integrity, authenticity, and non-reliability of electronic communications and data through digital signatures.

Challenges to Contemporary Encryption

The most basic method of attack on encryption today is brute force, or trying random keys until the right one is found. Of course, the length of the key determines the possible number of keys and affects the plausibility of this type of attack. It is important to remember that encryption strength is directly proportional to key size, but the number of resources required to perform the computation increases as the critical size increases.

Alternative methods of breaking a cipher include side-channel attacks and cryptanalysis. Side-channel attacks go after the implementation of the cipher rather than the actual cipher itself. These attacks tend to succeed in an error in system design or execution. Likewise, cryptanalysis means finding a weakness in the cipher and exploiting it. Cryptanalysis is more likely to occur when there is a flaw in the cipher itself.

Data Encryption Solutions

Data protection solutions for data encryption can encrypt devices, email, and data. These encryption functionalities are often met with devices, email, and data control capabilities. Companies and organizations face the challenge of protecting data and preventing data loss as employees use external devices, removable media, and web applications more often as a part of their daily business procedures. Sensitive data may no longer be under the company’s control and protection as employees copy data to removable devices or upload it to the cloud. As a result, the best data loss prevention solutions prevent data theft and the introduction of malware from removable and external devices and web and cloud applications. To do so, they must also ensure that devices and applications are used correctly and that data is secured by auto-encryption even after it leaves the organization.

As mentioned, email control and encryption are other critical components of a data loss prevention solution. Secure, encrypted email is the only answer for regulatory compliance, a remote workforce, BYOD, and project outsourcing. Premier data loss prevention solutions allow your employees to continue to work and collaborate through email while the software and tools proactively tag, classify, and encrypt sensitive data in emails and attachments. The best data loss prevention solutions automatically warn, block, and encrypt sensitive information based on message content and context, such as user, data class, and recipient.

While data encryption may seem complicated, data loss prevention software handles it reliably daily. Data encryption does not have to be something your organization tries to solve independently. Choose a top data loss prevention software that offers data encryption with device, email, and application control, and rest assured that your data is safe.

Massive amounts of sensitive information are managed and stored online in the cloud or connected servers. Encryption uses cybersecurity to defend against brute force and cyber-attacks, including malware and ransomware. Data encryption secures transmitted digital data on the cloud and computer systems. There are two kinds of digital data: transmitted data or in-flight data and stored digital data or data at rest.

Modern encryption algorithms have replaced the outdated Data Encryption Standard to protect data. These algorithms guard information and fuel security initiatives, including integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation. The algorithms first authenticate a message to verify the origin. Next, they check the integrity to verify that the contents have remained unchanged. Finally, the non-repudiation initiative stops sends from denying legitimate activity.

There are several different encryption methods, each developed with different security and security needs in mind. The two main types of data encryption are asymmetric encryption and symmetric encryption.

Asymmetric encryption methods: 

Asymmetric encryption, also known as Public-Key Cryptography, encrypts and decrypts the data using two separate cryptographic asymmetric keys. These two keys are known as a “public key” and a “private key.”

Standard asymmetric encryption methods:

• RSA: RSA, named after computer scientists Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman, is a popular algorithm used to encrypt data with a public key and decrypt it with a private key for secure data transmission.
• Public critical infrastructure (PKI): PKI governs encryption keys through issuing and managing digital certificates.

Symmetric encryption methods: 

Symmetric encryption is a type of encryption where only one secret symmetric key is used to encrypt the plaintext and decrypt the ciphertext.

Standard symmetric encryption methods:

• Data Encryption Standards (DES): DES is a low-level encryption block cipher algorithm that converts plain text into blocks of 64 bits and converts them to ciphertext using keys of 48 bits. 
• Triple DES: Triple DES runs DES encryption three times by encrypting, decrypting, and then encrypting data.
• Advanced Encryption Standard (AES): AES is often referred to as the gold standard for data encryption and is used worldwide as the U.S. government standard.
• Twofish: Twofish is considered one of the fastest encryption algorithms and is free to use.

Benefits of data encryption

With more and more organizations moving to hybrid and multi-cloud environments, concerns about public cloud security and protecting data across complex environments are growing. Enterprise-wide data encryption and encryption key management can help protect data on-premises and in the cloud.

Cloud service providers (CSPs) may be responsible for the security of the cloud, but customers are responsible for security in the cloud, especially the security of any data. An organization’s sensitive data must be protected while allowing authorized users to perform their job functions. This protection should encrypt data and provide robust encryption key management, access control, and audit logging capabilities.

Robust data encryption and critical management solutions should offer:

• A centralized management console for data encryption and encryption key policies and configurations
• Encryption at the file, database, and application levels for on-premise and cloud data
• Role and group-based access controls and audit logging to help address compliance
• Automated key lifecycle processes for on-premise and cloud encryption keys