Encryption is a powerful tool used to protect data from being stolen, modified, or compromised. It works by transforming plain text into an unreadable format called ciphertext, which can only be unlocked with a unique digital key. This helps protect the confidentiality of digital data stored on computer systems or transmitted over a network such as the Internet. An example of this is sending an encrypted attachment via email.
HTTP is normally used to transmit hypertext files between a web server and a browser, but its default configuration does not allow for data encryption or user authentication. To keep the transmission of information secure, you must add encryption to HTTP, which is done using Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure HTTP (HTTPS). Most web servers support HTTPS, which provides server-end authentication and allows the server to validate the client or use any authentication service. There are no perfect security solutions and no way to avoid a data breach.
However, even if your preventive cybersecurity measures fail, there's an easy way to make leaked or stolen data virtually useless to cybercriminals: data encryption. Encryption employs complex mathematical algorithms that require so much computing power and time that it poses no threat. In fact, most people use encryption on a daily basis when accessing the Internet, such as when connecting to websites or using a VPN. In addition to using encryption-based Internet protocols for data transmission, you can encrypt all types of data before sending them, making them much more secure.
This requires the use of specialized data encryption solutions. It's worth noting that encryption is such a powerful tool that it's also used by cybercriminals for ransomware attacks. The five most important ways in which professional data encryption software improves data security and provides additional data protection are: it adds an additional layer of security; it ensures that secured possession remains secure; it makes leaked or stolen data virtually useless; it protects data from manipulation; and it meets compliance requirements. Encryption processes provide an additional benefit that is often overlooked, but is critical for all types of sensitive data: they protect not only from theft but also from all forms of manipulation.
This means that any change to the encrypted data during the decryption process will result in a decryption error and data loss (but not data theft). Regardless of compliance or regulations, any company that deals with information security must prioritize investing in encrypting data stored and in transit. While a data breach that causes encrypted data to be stolen will still have serious consequences, they will pale in comparison to those that could occur if the thief can use the stolen data.
