What is encryption and why it is important?
Understanding encryption and its importance is crucial. A lack of knowledge around this area could leave you vulnerable to several cybercrimes that are potentially detrimental to your business. We understand that it may all sound overwhelming and complicated which is why we are here.
Encryption explained
By definition encryption is the process of converting information or data into a code, especially to prevent unauthorized access.
To break this down and make it a bit clearer it essentially converts the original information (known as plaintext) into an alternative form such as code (known as ciphertext), this makes it so that only people with a decryption key or password can access it. Therefore, protecting your data from unauthorised persons.
Why is it so important?
Encryption ensures data is only viewed by those permitted to. This is important for businesses to prevent information from being misused as this could lead to identity theft, fraud, harassment, black mail and so on. All of these could break your business and at the very least create prolonged complications and inconveniences. By keeping on top of your data and encryption you are creating that strong barrier between yourself and others.
However, encryption isn’t only important for corporate reasons. On a personal basis encryption plays a part in protecting you from identity theft, protecting devices whether lost or stolen, sharing files securely between users and ransomware blackmail. All these possibilities no longer have to be playing on your mind with your data encrypted properly.
Symmetric and Asymmetric encryption
Symmetric encryption saves time and money by the encryption key and the decryption key being the same whilst asymmetric encryption has two different keys a private key and public key. The risk in symmetric encryption however is that if the key gets lost or stolen in transit it can be detrimental, so typically there’s an encryption key for the original encryption key. As you could imagine this adds complications to the process due to an infinite reliance on the chain of keys.
What actions to take
For those who aren’t sure if their data is encrypted or know it isn’t, we can perform initial checks as well as penetration testing to get an idea of what needs to be improved or done. From there we can advise you on what steps to take next and send over a quote for what needs to be completed.
For those whose data is encrypted there are still a few precautions you could take for further protection such as using secure networks, not leaving devices unattended, good data management, anti-virus tools installed and running etc.
It’s important to remember that whilst encryption is hugely protective it doesn’t mean to say it’s not possible to gain the information with advanced technology.
If you are looking for help with your data security, get in touch and we’ll be happy to help:
Phone: 01727 861553
