Data encryption is a reliable security measure. It scrambles sensitive data into a language that only the intended recipient is able decode. It is an essential component of digital transformation since it helps protect the confidentiality of information stored on or transmitted via computer systems or networks like the Internet. It provides integrity and authentication to ensure that the data is not altered or tampered when it is stored or transmitted.
Encrypting data is the process of converting the original data into the format that can only by read by the recipient with the key or password. In the majority of instances, the recipient will then convert the encrypted text back into its original form. Modern encryption techniques use algorithms to scramble the original data into the ciphertext. Different algorithms and methods are used for this purpose which include transposition and substitution techniques. The Caesar cipher, named for the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, is an early example of a cipher for substitution that uses a system whereby each letter is replaced with another one of a set number of times along the alphabet (e.g., “E” is transformed into “Y”).
Encryption can be required to ensure compliance with regulations imposed by various organizations or standard bodies including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and other consumer protection laws. It is also an essential security measure to guard sensitive company, client or patient information against cyberattacks. Retailers need to, for instance, safeguard credit card data and shipping details when they transfer data between networks or systems. The encryption process can protect data that is stored on computers and USB devices from being stolen by hackers.
