How can you secure databases with encryption?

2 What to encrypt in databases?

There are two main types of encryption you can apply to databases: data-at-rest encryption and data-in-transit encryption. Data-at-rest encryption protects your data when it is stored on disk or backup media. Data-in-transit encryption protects your data when it is transferred over a network or between applications. You can encrypt different levels of data, such as the entire database, individual tables, columns, or fields. You can also encrypt specific types of data, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or health records.

3 How to encrypt databases?

Different methods and tools can be used to encrypt databases, depending on your needs and preferences. Popular options include database encryption features, such as Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and Always Encrypted for SQL Server, Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and Data Redaction for Oracle, and InnoDB Encryption and Data Masking for MySQL. You can also encrypt your data at the application level before inserting it into the database for more control and flexibility over the encryption process and key management. Third-party encryption software or libraries that can integrate with your database are also available, such as CipherTrust Data Security Platform, HPE SecureData, and Crypto Complete. However, application encryption requires more coding and testing, and may affect the performance and functionality of your application.

4 How to manage encryption keys?

Encryption keys are essential for encrypting and decrypting your data, however they are also the most vulnerable part of your encryption system. If you lose or expose your keys, you risk losing access to your data or exposing it to unauthorized parties. Therefore, it is important to manage your keys securely and efficiently. To ensure the safety of your keys, you should use strong and random keys, store them separately from data, rotate them regularly, and use a key management system. Your keys should be long enough and generated by a secure random number generator to prevent them from being cracked or guessed by attackers. Additionally, storing keys and data together defeats the purpose of encryption and makes them easier to access by hackers. Rotating keys periodically will reduce the risk of compromise or exposure. Furthermore, a key management system can simplify and automate your key management tasks, as well as provide security and audit features. You can use a built-in KMS from your DBMS, a third-party KMS, or a cloud-based KMS. It is also important to have a backup and recovery plan for your keys in case of loss or corruption.

5 What are the challenges of encrypting databases?

Encrypting databases can provide many benefits, but it also comes with some challenges and trade-offs. Performance impact, functionality limitations, and compliance requirements are some of the common ones. Encryption can add overhead and latency to your database operations, especially if you encrypt large amounts of data or use complex algorithms. You need to balance the level of encryption and the performance of your database, and optimize your encryption settings and hardware resources accordingly. Additionally, encryption can affect the functionality and usability of your database, such as interfering with indexing, searching, sorting, or aggregating data. It may also require modifications to queries or code. Lastly, encryption can help you comply with some regulations and standards that mandate data protection and privacy; however, it can also introduce new compliance obligations that you need to follow and document.

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?