The "Secret” Weapon in Your Data Security Arsenal - Encryption

You’ve put foolproof physical security checks at your data centres and offices. To leave no stone unturned, you have also put sophisticated access control systems and firewalls.?

Despite all this, some astute black hat hackers get their hands on your data!?

Whether you are a corporate or a defence organisation, data breach is the biggest nightmare. If despite every possible precaution, your data gets leaked, you have a final secret weapon – encryption.??

From a business enterprise to a government agency, every organisation must encrypt their files and communication to make sure that the leaked data becomes illegible for the “man-in-the-middle" or the digital “eavesdropper.”??

This write-up serves as a comprehensive guide for public, private, and defence organisations about encryption in network security.??

What Is Encryption??

Let’s begin by defining what is encryption.??

Encryption is the process of converting your data into cryptic codes, which only the sender of the message, the receiver of the message, or the authorised person from a recognised IP and credentials, can access.??

Simply put, if your data is scrambled into a secret code that only authorized people with a special key can unlock, it's encrypted. This can be done for data at rest (like on your computer) or in transit (like when it's being sent over the Internet).?

Across the board, organizations of all kinds – enterprises, governments, and defence agencies – rely on encryption to protect sensitive data.?

For that, these organisations use encryption in their file storage and sharing and communication software.?

Here are a couple of ways organizations can use encryption to safeguard their data and communication:?

1. Encryption in secure communication platform – The national defence bodies, government entities, and enterprises use custom-built communication applications that are secured through data encryption. If they need to chat, call, video call, or do close group virtual meetings, they must only use their own platform - accessible within their closed private network (and with end-to-end encrypted communication).
2. Secure file storage and sharing platform – Organisations must also use encryption to secure their files, like a secure box , which only their authorised users can access within their closed network and through a decryption key with them.??

Types of Encryptions?

Broadly, there are two types of encryption techniques. They are symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption.?

Symmetric Encryption??

In symmetric encryption, a single key is shared for both encryption and decryption.??

First, the key converts the plaintext into ciphertext. When the receiver (or the authorised user) wants to access the information or communication, the key decrypts the ciphertext back into plaintext.??

Organisations use symmetric encryption for bulk data as it is fast and simple. For instance, the advanced encryption standard (AES), which the US government uses for financial transactions, emails, and file security is based on symmetric encryption.??

Asymmetric Encryption?

As the name suggests, in asymmetric encryption there are different keys used for encryption and decryption. In other words, there is a public key for encrypting the data and a private key (available with the receiver or authorised user) for decrypting the data.??

Different keys for encrypting and decrypting make it harder for attackers to decipher (or interpret) the data. Although it is a slower method, asymmetric encryption is often used??

As two different keys are involved, it makes it even harder for attackers to decipher (or interpret) the message.??

Despite being slower than symmetric encryption, asymmetric encryption is used to secure key exchanges, authentication in open systems, and for securing digital signatures.??

Benefits of a Strong Encryption Strategy?

Encryption offers a range of benefits in ensuring data security and maintaining the integrity of information. Here are some key benefits:?

Confidentiality?

With encryption, organisations ensure that only authorised users can access sensitive. They can secure a wide range of data with encryption, ranging from personally identifiable information (PII) to sensitive corporate assets and government secrets.??

Encryption reduces the risk of exposing critical information. Additionally, businesses and enterprises can also avoid costly penalties and reputational damage if they comply with the encryption regulations.??

Data Integrity?

Data encryption plays a vital role in maintaining data integrity by protecting data from unauthorised modifications or tampering. Through encryption, organisations can ensure that their data remains unchanged and uncorrupted during storage and transmission.??

This holistic approach of securing files in storage and in communication with encryption helps to guarantee the reliability and accuracy of the information.?

Non-repudiation?

The non-repudiation quality of encryption prevents senders and recipients from denying that they have sent certain encrypted data.??

In other words, non-repudiation in encryption adds an extra layer of security and trust to digital communications. This enhances accountability (of teams and individuals) and reduces the risk of disputes over message authenticity.??

Challenges with Encryption (and How to Overcome Them)?

There is no doubt that encryption offers a plethora of benefits to organisations, especially if it is about protecting critical business data or ensuring national security.?

However, encryption also puts forward certain challenges for organisations that they should overcome.?

Secure Key Management?

It's crucial for organisations to carefully manage their encryption keys.??

Key management includes securely generating, distributing, rotating, revoking, and deleting keys.??

Solution – Organisations must have a system of rotating and managing keys periodically for better security. They must also have an authentication and authorisation system (in place to ensure that malicious entities do not get access to the files and systems.??

Compatibility Issues?

Implementing encryption for network security can be a bit tricky when it comes to complying with regulations. On one hand, it could help you adhere to the legal frameworks (related to data security and privacy), while on the other hand, it could create conflict with the law of the land.?

If not planned correctly, your encryption practices can introduce legal and regulatory challenges, including conflicting or ambiguous laws, jurisdictional differences, or government access requests. That's why it is critical to understand the legal and regulatory frameworks before implementing any data or encryption practice.??

Solution - A legal counsel or data protection officer can be your guide and friend in this matter.?

Conclusion?

Encryption is the cornerstone of secure information exchange, and Advantal provides the tools you need. Our ShieldCrypt platform and other solutions offer top-tier encryption, ideal for organizations of all sizes.?

Whether you're a large corporation or a government agency, Advantal empowers your teams to collaborate with confidence. Our secure communication solutions ensure your private conversations stay that way – free from eavesdropping and data breaches.?