Encryption

Glossary

What is Encryption?

Encryption is a method of data security in which information is converted into ciphertext. Only authorised individuals with the key can decrypt the code and access the original plaintext content.

In a simpler explanation, encryption is a method of making data unreadable to an unauthorised person.

Moreover, encryption ensures the secrecy and privacy of data or messages and provides authentication and integrity.

How Encryption Operates

Encryption is a logical process in which the party receiving encrypted data but possessing the key may easily decrypt it and return it to plaintext.

For decades, attackers have tried to decrypt such keys through brute forcing tactics. As of now, threat actors have gained more leverage in fending off encryption protocols as they progressively gain access to more powerful computational power, which allows them to get access when vulnerabilities exist.

On the other hand, encryption has evolved from a protocol used only by governments for top-secret operations to an everyday tool for organisations to ensure the discretion of their data.

Types of Encryption

  1. Symmetric Encryption: This simple encryption method uses a single secret key to cypher and decrypt data. This type is also the oldest and most well-known encryption technology but has a fundamental disadvantage since it requires both parties to have the key to encrypt the data before they can decrypt it.
  2. Asymmetric Encryption: This type, commonly known as public key cryptography encryption, is a relatively new method for encrypting and decrypting data using two different but related keys. There is one secret key and one public key. The public key encrypts data, whereas the private key decrypts it (and vice versa). The public key’s security is unnecessary because it is publicly available and can be shared via the internet.
  3. Data Encryption Standard (DES): This encryption process is a deprecated data encryption technology that uses symmetric keys. DES works by encrypting and decrypting a message with the same key; therefore, both the sender and receiver must have access to the private key.
  4. Triple Data Encryption: This encryption type is a Standard (3DES) that requires running the DES algorithm three times with three different keys. 3DES was generally viewed as a stopgap measure, as the single DES algorithm was gradually deemed too weak to deal with brute force attacks, while the stronger AES was still being evaluated.
  5. RSA: Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) is an algorithm that serves as the grounds for a cryptosystem, a collection of cryptographic algorithms utilised for certain security services or objectives. This process enables public key encryption, commonly used by browsers, to connect to websites and virtual private networks. RSA is asymmetric, meaning that two separate keys are utilised for encryption: public and private. If the public key is used for decryption, then the private key is used for encryption, and vice versa.
  6. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES): Created in 1997 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology as a replacement to the Data Encryption Standard, the Advanced Encryption Standard is a cypher used by the United States government to safeguard sensitive data. AES uses three alternative key lengths to encrypt and decrypt messages: 128-bit, 192-bit, and 256-bit. AES is commonly used to protect data at rest in applications like databases and hard drives.
  7. Cloud Encryption: A service provided by cloud storage companies in which data is encrypted using algorithms before being uploaded to a cloud repository. Cloud storage customers must be knowledgeable and familiar with the service’s encryption and key management policies and processes.
  8. End-to-End Encryption: E2EE ensures that messages can only be read by the two users who are talking with each other. Even the intermediate, such as a telecom or internet service provider, cannot decipher the messages. E2EE is widely regarded as the safest way to communicate discreetly and securely online.

The Benefits of Encryption

  1. Privacy and Security: Encryption can help avoid data leaks. Even if a threat actor acquires illicit network access, an encrypted device will remain secure, rendering the attackers’ attempts to steal data ineffective. Encryption ensures that no one may read conversations or data other than the intended recipient or owner. This solution stops attackers from intercepting and accessing important information.
  2. Regulations: Encrypting data allows businesses to safeguard their data while protecting privacy by industry regulations and government legislation. Many industries, especially financial services and healthcare, have clearly defined data protection policies.
  3. Secure Internet Browsing: Encryption protects consumers as they browse the internet. The standard for encrypting web content via HTTP over the Secure Socket Layer protocol evolved, which was immediately replaced by the Transport Layer Security protocol, allowing corporations, publishers, and e-commerce providers to give a secure experience to users.
  4. Encryption Keeps Sensitive Data Protected: Encryption will remain a crucial security component in everything from video chat to e-commerce to social networking. Any data that can be transferred or kept will be encrypted. Both enterprises and individual users would benefit from staying updated on encryption standards to guarantee that their personal and professional data is protected from misuse or compromise.

Encryption has benefited both consumers and attackers as different entities have found ways to use it to their advantage.

How can iZOOlogic help my Company or Organisation?

Find out how iZOOlogic can provide encryption solutions through our Digital Asset Management solutions.

To find out more about how iZOOlogic can help protect your company’s cyber security, schedule a demo.