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What is an Encryption Process

What is an Encryption Process : Definition, Types and Uses

What is an Encryption Process : Definition, Types and Uses

What is an Encryption Process : Definition, Types and Uses


We live in a time when many of our companies and contact processes have been digitized. Today, thanks to technological advancements, we can easily share knowledge at far higher rates to distant locations. Aside from that, there are a plethora of companies that operate online these days. A vast volume of information is being exchanged and used as a result of the growth of IoT-based goods. As we rely more on online services for banking, ticket booking, food ordering, and so on, there is a constant risk of security breach. Encryption is one of the security mechanisms being used to protect our data.

What is Encryption Process?

People used to use certain hidden methods to hide valuable details when moving it from one place to another in ancient times. They used to translate the data into a hidden code that concealed the true meaning of the data. Only the sender and receiver will be aware of the process used to break it down. This approach would keep the information secure even if it was stolen in route These techniques are still used in cryptography today.

Encryption is the process of converting information into a secret code that conceals the true meaning of the information. Unencrypted data is referred to as plaintext in programming, while encrypted data is referred to as ciphertext. Encryption algorithms, also known as ciphers, are the formulas used to encode and decrypt messages.
Encryption is a type of cryptography in which messages or information are encoded so that only approved personnel have access to them. The term "encryption" comes from the Greek word "kryptos," which means "hidden" or "encrypted." To hide the true message, the content of messages will be reordered or replaced with other numbers, alphabets, images, and so on. Encryption has been practiced since the early 1900s B.C. Until the 1970s, encryption was only used by the government and major corporations when transmitting sensitive information. However, as time passes, new approaches and algorithms of greater complexity are being practiced.

The Procedure of the Encryption Process

The three main components of the encryption process are data, the encryption engine, and key management. An encryption algorithm is used to encrypt the data to be protected. The type of algorithm to be used and the variable to be used as a key are both determined by the sender. The encrypted data can then only be decrypted using a key shared by the sender

There are two kinds of encryption algorithms: symmetrical and asymmetrical. Symmetric Cypers are often referred to as hidden key encryption. This algorithm makes use of a single key. The sender distributes the key to the approved recipients in this case. The most commonly used symmetric algorithm is Advanced Encryption Standard.

Private key encryption is another name for the asymmetric encryption algorithm. This algorithm employs two distinct keys: a private key and a public key. These keys are related logically. Prime numbers are used to create the key in this case. This makes encryption reverse engineering more complicated. The Rivest – Shamir – Adleman algorithm is the most widely used asymmetric encryption algorithm.

Types of Encryption Process

When computing, the encrypted data or information is referred to as "ciphertext." The reader must decrypt an encrypted message in order to read it. The unencrypted data is referred to as "plain text." Certain formulas are used to encrypt or decrypt a message. These formulas are known as Encryption Algorithms, also known colloquially as "Ciphers." There are the various types of Ciphers that are used depending on the application. A variable named 'Key' is used in these algorithms. The variable 'Key' is crucial in the encryption and decryption of messages. If an attacker attempts to decrypt a message, he must guess both the algorithm used to encrypt the message and the variable 'key.'

There are different types of encryption methods available today, depending on their functionality and computation complexity. They are selected based on their intended use. Among the most popular forms of encryption are:

  • Bring Your Own Encryption(BYOE)

This is often referred to as "Bring Your Own Key." This is a security paradigm for cloud computing. Customers of cloud services can use and maintain their own encryption tools and encryption keys in this case.

  • Cloud Storage Encryption

Cloud service providers offer this model. Prior to storing data in cloud storage, data is encrypted using the encryption algorithm. The customer must be aware of the policies and encryption algorithms used in this type of model and choose based on the sensitivity of the stored data.

  • Column Level Encryption

This is a blueprint for database encryption. In this case, the data in each cell of a specific column has the same password for accessing data, reading, and writing.

  • Deniable Encryption

Data in this encryption can be decrypted in more than one way, depending on the type of encryption key used. This encryption is useful when the sender anticipates communication interception.

  • Encryption as a Service

This is a subscription-based business model. It is extremely beneficial to cloud service users. Customers who do not have the ability to handle encryption themselves. Customers benefit from this model because it protects data across many tenant settings.

  • End-to-End Encryption

This model ensures that data sent via a communication channel between two parties is completely secure. The data to be submitted is encrypted by the client program before being sent to the web client. Only the receiver has the ability to decrypt the obtained data. This model is used by social media apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and others.

  • Field- Level Encryption

This model encrypts data in unique fields on a website. Credit card numbers, social security numbers, bank account numbers, and other such fields are examples. Following the selection of a field, the data in that field is automatically encrypted.

  • FDE

This is referred to as hardware-level encryption. It automatically transforms data on a hardware drive into a format that only the individual with the appropriate encryption key can understand. And if the hard drive is removed and put in another computer, the data cannot be decrypted without the correct encryption key. This model can be mounted on the computing system during the manufacturing process or after downloading special software drivers.

  • Homomorphic Encryption Process

This encryption method transforms the data into ciphertext, allowing users to operate on the encrypted data without jeopardizing the encryption. This model allows you to perform mathematical operations on the encrypted data.

  • HTTPS
Web servers use this encryption. To encrypt the websites, HTTP is used in conjunction with the TLS protocol. The webserver that encrypts the data requires a public-key certificate.

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