What is Encryption Management and What Does It Do?
What is Encryption Management and What Does It Do?
By: Sam Geary, Marketing Executive
What is Encryption?
Encryption is a method of storing data in a scrambled way which means that it can’t be accessed by anyone that hasn’t been provided with prior authorisation. They will need a code or password authentication to access.
Businesses aim to encrypt data that is sensitive or owned by their customers for security purposes, meaning it can’t be used for anything other than the reason it was intended. This lessens the possibility of fraudulent practices. To help secure your businesses from data leaks, encryption management is often outsourced to other external companies.
What is the Importance of Encryption?
So, why exactly do we need encryption?
Data encryption converts readable content into a series of ciphertext – information that is shown as a collection of random letters, numbers and characters – so that it’s not readable by the general public, or anyone that gets ahold of the data that shouldn’t have it.
For businesses, encryption is essential. For fraudsters or online criminals, a business without encryption in their systems is an easy target. If you store financial data on your systems, or customers’ personal data such as their full name, address and contact information, then encryption is required for confidentiality to avoid fraud and also give your customers confidence in your service. A data leak could be really damaging to your business and will make your customers lose faith in your service.
Encryption also allows for an element of authentication. Your employees will obviously need access to this personal data to do their jobs. However, if they work remotely or other people have access to their computer, it’s important to have that failsafe so in place, giving you the confidence that the only people that can log in to that computer and access the data are the people you authorise to do so.
How Does Encryption Work
Encryption is an algorithm which works using a mathematical key to unlock the encrypted data. Encrypting data is like having a secret code to decipher messages. If your message is ‘Hello’, then each of the letters in that word would be converted to different letters or numbers. The letters used within this conversion are random and only placed by the algorithm.
They are then unscrambled and appear as the original message, only when an authorised person logs in and uses the ‘key’ or password to enter. Anyone else trying to access the data will only see it as a ramble scramble of letters and numbers.
Although hackers may try to unscramble the data, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll be able to guess the key and discover the message if proper encryption management is put in place.
Managed Encryption Services With PCS Systems
PCS offers a secure encryption management service to handle this process for you. Our IT professionals are skilled in internet security and we are constantly updating our software to ensure your data is completely safe and secure.
If you’re worried about your internet security and would like that added protection for peace of mind, contact PCS Systems today for advice and assistance in setting up your encryption services.
PCS Business Systems Ltd
2 Northfield Point
Cunliffe Drive
Kettering
Northants
NN16 9QJ
