What is Data Encryption? Data encryption is simply turning data into something unreadable, so that it can be transmitted securely, and then returning it its original form after receipt. There are three elements to this process: the first is the encryption, or scrambling the data to make it useless. This normally uses some kind of algorithm to change the data. Next is the transmission, where the data is sent to its destination, in this scrambled form, the data is known as ciphertext, and third is the decryption process. This uses a key to revert the algorithm’s changes so the data can be read or used as intended. For most of us, the most common experience we have with encryption is when we buy something online. Sending your personal and financial data to the vendor is encrypted, so that even if it was intercepted, the criminal could not see your card number and other details. Data Encryption Software While internet encryption is handled by browsers and servers, if you want to protect data for a business or individual, there are a number of software options that will encrypt specific data or automatically encrypt any data sent to a specific folder or hard drive. The most commonly used of this type of data encryption software are Microsoft BitLocker or Apple’s FileVault. Think of this like keeping a diary in a locked drawer if you don’t want others to read it. The information is your data, and the lock is the encryption software. Data Encryption Standard Data encryption is necessary for almost every aspect of data use today, and it is interesting to see how it has evolved. Back in the 1970s, IBM developed one of the first symmetric-key algorithms for encryption using a 56-bit key. This was considered so secure and advanced, it was adopted by the U.S. Government. Today, 128-bit encryption is commonplace, and 256-bit is increasingly in use, highlighting the relative strength of modern security protection. To envision how DES works, imagine a complex puzzle. The original data is broken down into pieces (like puzzle parts), each encrypted separately using the same key (the puzzle's solution), which is also needed to put it back together. Data in Use Encryption Data encryption is a security strategy that is designed to protect your active data. While traditional encryption solutions have proved successful in protecting your stored data, often called data at rest, as well as data in transit, that is data being transmitted from one place to another, it has often been the case that data you are using has been left vulnerable, because that is the point data is decrypted so it can be used. Data in use encryption keeps the data accessible to be used, but maintains encryption so that others cannot read the data if accessed even while you are using it. Conclusion We all use data of all kinds in pretty much everything we do today, so understanding what encryption is and how it protects us is important. From the HTTPS encryption your browser uses to connect to the internet to using Microsoft BitLocker to protect sensitive data on your laptop, data encryption is a part of everything we do that involves data. As data breaches have become increasingly common, and data itself often the most valuable asset a business possesses, the value of encryption continues to increase.