Encrypting your storage devices can protect your data from unauthorized access, theft, or loss. But it also comes with some trade-offs and challenges that you should be aware of. In this article, we'll explain what encrypted storage devices are, how they work, and what are the security risks and benefits of using them.
Encrypted storage devices are any type of storage media that use encryption to secure the data stored on them. Encryption is a process of transforming data into an unreadable form that can only be decrypted with a key or a password. Encrypted storage devices can be internal or external, such as hard drives, solid state drives, flash drives, or memory cards. They can also use different encryption methods, such as hardware encryption or software encryption.
Encrypted storage devices work by applying encryption algorithms to the data before writing it to the storage media. The encryption key or password is either stored on a separate device, such as a smart card or a token, or entered by the user when accessing the data. The encryption key or password is required to decrypt the data and make it readable again. Without the encryption key or password, the data is inaccessible and meaningless.
Encrypted storage devices can offer several benefits for data security and privacy. These include preventing unauthorized access to sensitive or personal data, protecting your data from theft or loss, complying with data protection regulations, and enhancing your reputation and trustworthiness. Encryption is especially important for financial records, health information, or confidential documents, as well as for meeting GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS requirements. Ultimately, encryption is a sign of care for data security and privacy.
Using encrypted storage devices can also come with certain risks and challenges. If you forget or lose your encryption key or password, or if they are corrupted or compromised, you can lose access to your data. Additionally, encryption and decryption processes can consume more CPU, memory, and battery resources, and slow down data transfer speeds. Furthermore, some encrypted storage devices may not work with certain operating systems, applications, or devices. Lastly, some encrypted storage devices may not be allowed or accepted in some countries, jurisdictions, or situations, so you may face legal or ethical dilemmas.
When selecting the best encrypted storage device for your needs, it’s important to consider the type and size of data you want to store, the level and method of encryption, the ease and frequency of access and backup, your budget, availability, compatibility, and reliability. Compare different types of encrypted storage devices based on these factors, taking into account their pros and cons. Additionally, read reviews and ratings from other users, and test the performance and functionality of the encrypted storage devices before buying them.
Encryption is not the only thing to consider when securing data. You will want to have a recovery plan such as backups of the drive in case the storage media fails. You may want to consider the strength of the encryption used. Stronger encryption uses more processing power and takes up more room on the storage media. Another consideration is that access to the encrypted media will also need to be determined. Will this encrypted media be needed on a Domain network or just Local access? Access rights will also need to be determined on the encrypted data, who will need to read the data, and who can write, modify and delete the data from the encrypted media.