How do you measure and demonstrate the impact and value of encryption in your organization or industry?

1 What is encryption and why does it matter?

Encryption is the process of transforming data into an unreadable form that can only be deciphered by authorized parties who have the key. Encryption can protect data from unauthorized access, modification, or theft, whether it is stored, transmitted, or processed. Encryption can also enable authentication, integrity, confidentiality, and non-repudiation of data and communications. Encryption can help you comply with legal and ethical obligations, enhance your reputation and trust, and reduce your risks and costs.

2 What are the types and levels of encryption?

There are different types and levels of encryption that can suit different purposes and scenarios. The main types of encryption are symmetric and asymmetric, which differ in how the keys are generated and distributed. Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption, while asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys, one public and one private. Symmetric encryption is faster and simpler, but requires a secure way to share the key. Asymmetric encryption is more secure and flexible, but requires more computation and coordination. The level of encryption refers to the strength or complexity of the algorithm and the key size, which determine how hard it is to break the encryption. The level of encryption should match the sensitivity and value of the data and the threat landscape.

3 How do you measure the impact of encryption?

The impact of encryption can be measured by various indicators that reflect the outcomes and objectives of your encryption strategy. For instance, data breach incidents and responses can be monitored to determine how encryption reduces the frequency, scope, and damage of data breaches and improves recovery and remediation processes. Additionally, compliance and audit performance can be evaluated to determine how well legal and regulatory requirements for data protection and security are met. Moreover, customer and stakeholder satisfaction should be monitored to measure the effect of encryption on trustworthiness and reputation, as well as complaints and disputes.

4 How do you demonstrate the value of encryption?

The value of encryption can be demonstrated by evaluating the benefits and costs in relation to your business goals and challenges. For instance, you can measure the return on investment (ROI) of encryption by analyzing how much you gain or save from it compared to how much you spend or invest. Additionally, encryption can also help reduce risk by mitigating potential losses or damages from data breaches, cyberattacks, or other threats. Lastly, encryption can also provide a competitive advantage by differentiating yourself from your competitors or peers and enhancing your innovation, quality, or customer loyalty.

5 How do you communicate the impact and value of encryption?

To effectively communicate the impact and value of encryption, it’s important to use clear, concise, and compelling messages that target your specific audience and purpose. To do this, consider using stories and examples to illustrate how encryption has helped people achieve positive outcomes or overcome challenges in real situations. Use data and evidence to support your claims with facts and figures that show the impact and value of encryption in measurable ways. And use testimonials and endorsements to showcase how encryption has satisfied or impressed customers or stakeholders by sharing their feedback, reviews, or recommendations. Quotes, ratings, or awards can be used to highlight their opinions and experiences.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?