Encryption has been around for a long time, but what exactly does it mean to encrypt? Encryption is known as converting information or data into a cipher or code, to prevent unauthorized access. Encrypting is a big part of cybersecurity overall and is one of the best ways to ensure your information is safe.
Risks of encrypting include the “bad guys” getting the keys that give full access to all of the secret information, as well as the “good guys” forgetting their keys, which means they’re unable to do any work. The good news is that there is such thing as “key recovery,” this provides an alternative decryption key that can only be retrieved by someone whose authority over the encrypted data is the same as or better than the user who forgot their password.
The biggest misconception is convincing yourself that no one is interested in what you’re doing. The fact of the matter is that a “bad guy” can steal your data for little to no cost and turn around and sell it for whatever price they bargain it for. Typically, it’s when the good guy has the mentality of “that will never happen to me, no one really cares what I’m doing” is when the bad guy strikes.
The idea that encrypting your data and managing your keys is a very complicated process prevents many small-to-medium businesses from taking this on. There are tools out there that are built into your Windows and Mac operating system that can help. The key is to have a plan – what needs to be encrypted, how will you do it, and how will you manage it. With some planning and forethought this can be a very cost-effective way to protect your business.
There is no such thing as a 100% secure network. However, just like many other security tools, encryption adds another important layer of protection. If you are unsure of the route you should take, contact a Managed Services Provider like CHR to discuss.
