Data encryption is a reliable security measure. It scrambles sensitive data into unreadable gibberish that only the intended recipient is able decode the message. It is a vital aspect of digital transformation since it ensures the security of information stored on computers or networks like the Internet. It also ensures integrity and authenticity, ensuring that the data isn’t altered or altered during transmission or storage.
Encrypting data is the process of changing original information into an encrypted format that can only by read by the recipient with the key or password. In the majority of cases, a recipient can translate the ciphertext back into its original format. Modern encryption techniques employ algorithms that convert original data to ciphertext. There are a variety of algorithms and methods used to accomplish this such as transposition and substitution techniques. The Caesar cipher, named in honor of the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, is an early example of a substitution cipher, in which each letter is replaced with another one a fixed number of places down the alphabet (e.g., “E” changes to “Y”).
The encryption of data is often required to ensure compliance with regulations set by different institutions or standard bodies including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and other consumer protection laws. It is a critical security measure to protect sensitive information about a business, client or a patient from cyber-attacks. Retailers should, for example, protect credit card information and shipping information when they transfer these data across networks or between systems. The encryption process can protect information stored on computers and USB devices from being hacked by hackers.