What You Need to Know About Data Encryption

Encryption, the process of encoding data in a way that can only be deciphered by authorized parties, offers a host of benefits that extend far beyond individual privacy.

From protecting confidential business communications to securing online transactions and guarding against cyber threats, the benefits of encryption make it an indispensable data security and integrity tool.

“Robust data encryption helps to safeguard our clients’ information, enhances their reputations with their customers, and is a critical component of staying one step ahead of cybercriminals,” says George Terrone, a co-founder of ITSco.

Let’s explore the numerous advantages of encryption in this blog post and delve into how it enhances data security for businesses like yours in today’s fast changing digital world!

Reasons for Encryption: What Is It and Why Do I Need It?

At its core, encryption is a sophisticated security process that uses complex algorithms to transform plain, understandable data into an unintelligible form, known as ciphertext. This transformation is made possible by applying cryptographic keys, AKA unique codes or passwords, that enable encryption and decryption.

So, what are the reasons for encryption? Encryption acts as a digital lock, rendering sensitive information unreadable to anyone without the corresponding key. It is a vital layer of protection, ensuring that your sensitive business data remains confidential and secure, even if it falls into unauthorized hands.

So many businesses are looking to leverage the benefits of encryption today that the encryption software market has been growing at a CAGR of 16.8% from 2019 to 2025.

Image Credit: Grandview Research

Types of Encryption: At Rest and In Transit

There are two distinct “stages” of data encryption: at rest and in-transit. Both forms of encryption play critical roles in overall data security, providing layers of protection at different stages of the data lifecycle.

Data encryption at rest focuses on securing data when it is stored, and is intended to ensure that even if the storage medium is accessed, the data remains protected and unintelligible to unauthorized individuals.

Data encryption in transit safeguards data while it is being transmitted between systems or networks in order to safeguard the data from interception or unauthorized access during its journey across potentially untrusted networks.

Each type of encryption requires its own unique methodologies to implement and each needs to be considered carefully when implementing a robust data security policy.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Data Encryption

93% of companies plan to or are already encrypting API gateways to prevent data breaches, according to the 2020 Cyberthreat Defense Report. While you may already be eager to adopt this security measure, it’s essential to know the advantages and disadvantages of data encryption first.

Advantages:

1. Data Security: One of the primary benefits of encrypting phones and devices is that it provides a robust defense against unauthorized access attempts, protecting sensitive data that comes in the form of personal information, financial details, and trade secrets.How? Encryption ensures that even if data is intercepted or stolen, it remains unreadable and unusable without the decryption key. This is especially important since the average data breach costs more than USD 4.35 million as of 2022.
2. Privacy Protection: In an age where our digital footprint is susceptible to unwarranted surveillance, encryption serves as a staunch guardian of individual privacy. It helps guarantee that your personal exchanges – from emails to file transfers – are shielded from prying eyes, preserving their confidentiality.
3. Compliance and Legal Requirements: Certain business sectors mandate the implementation of encryption to safeguard sensitive data. By adopting these measures, your business not only meets these regulatory demands but avoids potential penalties. More significantly, it reinforces your unwavering dedication to data protection.
4. Customer Trust and Reputation: The adoption of encryption is a pledge to your customers and partners that their sensitive data will be defended. This act bolsters your reputation and fosters trust, consequently attracting more leads and opportunities.

Disadvantages:

1. Performance Impact: While encryption is a boon, it does carry a potential burden, particularly on devices or systems that are resource-constrained or large-scale. The computational heavy lifting required for encrypting and decrypting data can potentially impede data transmission and augment processing time, influencing user experience and overall system performance.
2. Key Management Complexity: Encryption hinges on the utilization of cryptographic keys, which can be daunting to manage securely. The distribution, storage, and revocation of these keys demand meticulous planning and execution to avert key compromise, loss, or unauthorized access.
3. Recovery Challenges: If encryption keys are lost or forgotten, accessing encrypted data becomes nearly impossible. This poses a significant risk for individuals and businesses, emphasizing the importance of secure key management and reliable backup mechanisms.
4. Encryption Backdoors: While encryption provides a vital layer of security, encryption backdoors or government-mandated access mechanisms can undermine its effectiveness. Such vulnerabilities, intentionally or unintentionally introduced, can be exploited by malicious actors, posing a threat to overall data security.

It is essential to consider these advantages and disadvantages of encryption when implementing encryption solutions to balance data protection and operational efficiency.

Implementing Encryption with Cyber Security Experts

Encryption is complicated – but implementation doesn’t have to be.

With our deep expertise and broad experience, ITSCO can assist with the implementation of robust encryption protocols that help protect your sensitive data from unauthorized access.

By partnering with ITSCO, you can focus on your core business operations while knowing that your IT infrastructure is supported by an experienced and dedicated team of IT professionals. Make the intelligent choice and entrust all your IT security needs to ITSCO, where your peace of mind is our top priority – contact us now.