Encryption Software Buyer’s Guide

What is Encryption?

Data encryption is a method that converts plaintext (unencrypted data) into ciphertext (encrypted data), which may only be accessed by authorized users with the correct cryptographic key. Encryption, which is a key element of the digital transformation, simply transforms readable data into a random format that only those with the appropriate password can decode and access.

Despite the fact that encrypted data seems random, encryption works in a logical, predictable manner, making it possible for an individual with the correct key to decode the data and restore it to plaintext if they get it encrypted.

Regardless of whether your company creates, aggregates, or consumes data, encryption is a crucial data privacy security approach to keep sensitive data away from unwanted users.

The obsolete Data Encryption Standard has been replaced with more updated encryption techniques to secure data. These algorithms protect data and support security objectives including non-repudiation, integrity, and authentication.

A true safe encryption employs keys that are sufficiently complicated making it very unlikely for a third party to be able to decrypt or break the ciphertext using brute force—that is, by guessing the key.

Data can be encrypted "at rest" when it is being stored or "in transit" when it is being sent to another location.

Why should you worry about Encryption?

Every time we make a purchase online, use the bank ATM, text or call somebody, encryption keeps the transaction or communication private and highly secure. Encryption adds an extra layer of protection so that Information can only be accessed by those who are permitted to use it. It is now an important aspect of our life in the modern world. Since it offers data integrity, privacy, security, and authentication, encryption is something we should be concerned about. It is frequently necessary to comply with regulations.

Encryption plays an important role in securing many different types of information technology (IT) assets too. Data encryption is an essential component of a strong cybersecurity strategy, especially as more companies migrate to the cloud and become less comfortable with cloud security best practices. It offers the following:

• Confidentiality: encodes the content within a message.
• Authentication: verifies message authenticity.
• Integrity: confirms that content of a message have not been altered after it was sent.
• Non-repudiation: prevents sender from denying they sent the encrypted message.

There are several different encryption techniques, each of which was created with a particular security necessity in mind. The two main methods of data encryption are Asymmetric encryption and symmetric encryption.

Symmetric Encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. This implies that in order to decrypt data, the sender of encrypt data must share the secret key with all the individuals who have been granted authorization. Symmetric encryption is frequently used for bulk data encryption since it is typically quicker and simpler to deploy than asymmetric encryption.

Asymmetric Encryption, also known as public key encryption uses two separate yet mathematically connected keys – a public key and a private key. Typically, the public key is shared publicly and is available for anyone to use, while the private key is often kept secret and is accessible only to the key owner. In this, the data can be encrypted either with the private key or with the public key, whichever key is not used for encryption becomes the decryption key.

Selecting the right encryption approach for your organization

The objective of encryption is to protect data stored on a computer or network storage system. If your organization uses data encryption, your company’s assets are secure; and if it’s not, the assets are not secure and it’s time to get worried.

However, the reality is not so straightforward for the security personnel, whose role it is to protect sensitive data. At a high level, there are four technological tiers at which data encryption is generally used can be divided into four categories:

1.??Full-disk or media

2.??File system

3.??Database

4.??Application-layer encryption

In general, the lower the encryption is implemented in the stack, the simpler and less intrusive the implementation process will be. However, the volume and range of attacks that these data encryption techniques may stop are similarly limited.

Most of time, organizations may often achieve greater levels of security and reduce more risks by implementing encryption higher in the stack.

Full-Disk Encryption

Full-disk encryption (FDE) also known as hardware-level encryption, works by automatically encrypting data stored on a hard drive into a format that is not readable to anyone without a decryption key to undo the process. Even if the hard drive is taken out and installed in a different computer, the data will be still inaccessible without the correct encryption key.

FDE can be installed in a computer system either when it is being manufactured or at a later time by installing a specific software driver.

Advantages:

• Simplest way to implement encryption
• Transparent to users, databases, and applications
• High-performance, hardware-based encryption

Disadvantages:

• Solely guards against the physical loss of storage media and addresses a fairly narrow range of risks.
• Lacks protection against external attackers, unethical insiders, or advanced persistent threats (APTs)
• Complies with the very minimum standards
• Does not provide granular access audit logs

File-Level Encryption

File encryption is a method of encrypting files, along with the confidential information they hold, in order to send them safely. The encoding protects data against illegal access and manipulation by malicious entities. It prevents a file from being viewed by anybody other than the intended recipient.

Complicated algorithms are used to encrypt files. An encrypted file is one that has had its data scrambled using an encoding algorithm. Once scrambled, the file becomes unreadable, but the effect only lasts for a short while. A key that the sender supply is included with the encrypted data. This key, which permits decryption, typically takes the form of a password or passphrase, such as a string of alphanumeric characters.

File encryption is extremely effective if you need to transfer files over the internet or on a portable disc, such a USB drive. It safeguarded the files when in transit, which is when they are most at risk.

Advantages:

• Organizations don't have to modify applications or associated business processes since it is transparent to users and applications.
• Accepts data that is both organized and unorganized
• Establishes strict controls that prevent misuse by privileged users and adhere to regulatory standards
• Provides fine-grained file access logs and enables faster threat detection using SIEM systems that may be employed for compliance reporting and security intelligence.

Disadvantages:

• Because encryption agents are operating system-specific, it's crucial to make sure the solution chosen provides support for a wide range of Windows, Linux, and Unix platforms.

Database Encryption

Database encryption is the process of employing an algorithm to converting database into "cipher text" (unreadable data). To decode the text, you need a key generated from the algorithm. The database encryption process is highly recommendable, especially for businesses dealing with financial, health care, or e-commerce. Due to the recent occurrence of cyberattack, data theft, and data breaches, there is growing worry around personal data. People are increasingly conscious of data security and privacy, and they want their data to be safeguarded and utilized only when required.

Your data, both in transit and at rest, is more securely protected thanks to database encryption. With the recent security breach incidents, more organizations have started to take data encryption seriously. Because they store the most important asset for the majority of businesses, database servers are frequently targeted by attackers. The likelihood is high that an intrusive entity will steal data from your server if they have access to sensitive information there. Once they acquire the data, they utilize it to demand ransom from the organization they have targeted or to exploit it for financial benefit.

Advantages:

• Protects data stored in databases, which are important repositories.
• Robust defenses are put in place against a range of dangers, such as malicious insiders and, in certain situations, a rogue database administrator.
• Provides per-column transparent encryption of sensitive database information.

Disadvantages:

• Transparent data encryption prevents the use of products from one database vendor on databases from other vendors.
• Transparent data encryption doesn't provide central administration for environments with numerous vendor databases or other parts of the environment.
• Only encrypts the columns or tables of a database, leaving configuration files, system logs, and reports accessible.

Application-Layer Encryption

There are two most common used types of data encryption “at-rest encryption” and “in-transit encryption”. Like at-rest encryption, application-layer encryption is intended to safeguard data at rest. But unlike at-rest encryption, it encrypts data according to the programme that owns it rather than for the storage device or disc where the data is kept.

With application-layer encryption, the final application is responsible for data encryption and decryption. Data is encrypted while it is stored or transported over the network and is kept that way until it gets to the destination application that contains the encryption keys. Someone who has permission to access a specific user account does not have full access to all the data stored in that account; rather, they only have access to the data necessary for the application to which they have access. This is because keys are only given to applications on a need-to-know basis.

In many instances, at-rest encryption is useless against modern, network-based attacks. Application-layer encryption provides more thorough and reliable data protection and can defend a variety of security threats.

Advantages:

• Protects certain data subsets, such as database fields.
• Data can be encrypted prior to transmission and storage since encryption and decryption take place at the application layer.
• Greatest degree of security available, offering defenses against malicious DBAs and SQL-injection attacks.
• Additionally, PCI DSS compliance expenses and administrative burden may be greatly decreased via tokenization.

Disadvantages:

• These methods need to be implemented into the application, hence they demand development efforts and resources.

How small enterprises can encrypt data?

The terminology of data encryption may make it seem difficult, but there are several simple business encryption options available in the market. To begin with, most computers have encryption software pre-installed, though some of them may need to be manually enabled. To safeguard your entire drive, you can also install a variety of third-party encryption tools. Various commercial anti-malware solutions come with encryption software, and a few providers also offer standalone encryption technologies.

Built-in encryption tools

• Microsoft BitLocker is a disc encryption tool available for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11.
• Apple FileVault provides encryption for computers running Mac OS X.
• For Linux, you typically encrypt the disk during installation of the OS, using a tool such as dm-crypt.

Third-party encryption solutions (open source)

• VeraCrypt is open-source software that runs on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. It frequently receives the best ratings from users and third party testers.
• AxCrypt is a simple encryption application that comes in both free and paid editions. It offers a collaboration tool and a password manager for sharing encrypted data with others.
• Gpg4win digitally signs and encrypts files and emails with military-grade security.

Many anti-malware providers, including Symantec, Kaspersky, Sophos, and ESET, offer encryption as part of their protection packages or as a standalone solution.

Ideal practices for computer encryption

• Back up your data and create an image backup of your entire drive before turning on encryption on your system.
• Perform frequent computer backups moving forward. If an encrypted disc crashes or become corrupt, files may be lost permanently.
• Use random numbers and letters to create a passcode or PIN, and then memorize it. The longer and more complicated it is, the better.
• In case you forget, save a written duplicate of your PIN, passcode, and encryption key (if different) in a secure location.
• If you use Wi-Fi, make sure to use Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3), a kind of encryption used to secure wireless connections. Avoid using Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), as it is not reliable under any circumstances.
• Finally, install a virtual private network (VPN) to access the office network when working remotely from a laptop or other mobile device. A VPN encrypts all of the data you send and receive online while establishing a secure tunnel for that session.

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