Page 16 - NBIZ February 2021

ENCRYPTION

By Madhu Maganti

he need for encryption is another into a lengthy code making it computer containing PII is stolen, and/
at an all-time high in this unreadable for anybody else attempt- or the information is leaked or shared.
COVID-19 “work from ing to access it. If a laptop is lost or stolen and the
Thome” environment with an When the data is encrypted, the files or disk aren’t encrypted, a thief
increasing number of organizations sender and the receiver are the only can easily steal the information, so it’s
and consumers falling victim to a whole people, that can decrypt the scrambled a good practice to encrypt your sensi-
host of cybercrimes. Cybercriminals info back to a readable condition. This tive data, if not your entire hard drive.
never rest, and this means that orga- successfully happens using 'keys', A thief doesn’t even need to know the
nizations need to be vigilant as well as which grants only users involved sign-on password to access the files –
to ensure the implementation of tough access to modify the data to make it it’s easy to boot a computer from a USB
security measures. unreadable and then readable again. thumb drive and then access the disks
You will find encryption in most Put more simply, imagine en- within the computer.
things that run using an internet cryption to be like translating your Disk encryption doesn’t protect a
connection, from messaging apps and information into a language only you computer entirely. A hacker can still
personal banking apps to websites and and your recipient know and, more access the computer over an insecure
online payment methods. importantly, which a cybercriminal network connection, or a user can click
For consumers, making sure cannot translate. a malicious link in an email and infect
your data cannot be stolen or used the computer with malware that steals
for ransom has never been more Why is Encryption Important? usernames and passwords. Those types
important. The purpose of file and disk en- of attacks require additional security
cryption is to protect data stored on a controls, like anti-malware software,
What is Encryption? computer or network storage system. firewalls, and awareness training.
Encryption prevents unauthorized All organizations, including small However, encrypting a computer’s files
access to your data, from emails to chat and midsize businesses (SMBs), that or the entire disk greatly reduces the
messages and bank details, by keeping collect personally identifiable infor- risk of data theft.
communication secure between the mation (PII) like names, birthdates,
parties involved. Social Security numbers, and financial How Does Encryption Work?
This is done by ‘scrambling’ the information must secure that informa- In the online world, encryption
information sent from one person to tion. An organization can be sued if a disguises data rearranging the data

16 NBIZ ■ February 2021