How Does Data Encryption Work?

Data encryption is a massively useful tool in the fight against cybercrime and business IT security. When broken down into its simplest form, data encryption’s role is to stop any of your sensitive company data from being stolen or even seen. In fact, data encryption is said to be one of the most secure ways to protect your business from cyberattacks, and if you’re thinking of using it (or you already do), it’s good to know more about how it all works. 

What Is Data Encryption?

On the outside, data encryption is simple. It means converting one set of data into another, hiding it from plain view. In other words, when you encrypt your data, it is converted from a readable format into an unreadable one. To read it again, it has to be decrypted. This should mean that, even if a cybercriminal were to hack into your systems, the data they could retrieve would be worthless, as they wouldn’t have the encryption code, so it would be rendered unreadable. 

It’s a simple solution, but highly effective, and it’s used by small businesses and large corporations alike as an added layer of protection against cyberattack. 

Types Of Encryption 

Every business is different, and each will have its own needs when it comes to data encryption. This is where there are several different types of encryption; every business and any user who requires data to be encrypted should find something to suit them. 

  • HTTPS Encryption 

If the URL you are visiting contains HTTPS at the start, you can be sure that the site you’re visiting is encrypted. You might also see a small padlock icon in the bar. When this is in place, no one will be able to change (or even see) any data that flows between the user and the site, and vice versa, including payment details. 

  • Email Encryption 

Some email platforms automatically encrypt any emails that are sent through them. Outlook and Gmail are just two examples. This means that an email can’t be read by anyone other than the sender and the recipient. Secure messaging apps will work on the same principle, so any information you send via these methods should be safe since it will use end-to-end encryption. 

  • VPNs

VPNs are a hugely popular way for people to encrypt their data, and they can be used on laptops as well as mobile devices (this is useful for when you’re out and about and using an unsecured public wifi connection which would otherwise be incredibly unsafe). 

How Effective Is Encryption?

Encryption is one of the most widely used methods of protecting electronic data, and it’s no wonder; it’s a safe, secure, and simple way to keep information safe. Data sent in encrypted form can only be decrypted by someone with the relevant key, meaning no one in between (no hacker) can interrupt the messages or read the information. In terms of effectiveness, although it’s not perfect, it’s a great additional line of defense against cybercrime.

Conclusion 

Encryption can be used for many different purposes, both in business and personally. It’s best to implement encryption on every device you have to remain as safe as possible; contact Corsica Tech today for more information.