Protecting keys at rest: Are the systems using encryption keys secured so the keys can never be used outside the system? In addition, do these systems implement encryption algorithms correctly to produce strong ciphertexts that cannot be decrypted without access to the right keys?.To get the most from an encryption solution, you need to think about two things: Current research suggests that even the future availability of quantum-based computing won’t sufficiently reduce the time it would take to break AES encryption.īut what if you mistakenly create overly permissive access policies on your data? A well-designed encryption and key management system can also prevent this from becoming an issue, because it separates access to the decryption key from access to your data. It would take at least a trillion years to break using current computing technology. AES-256 is the technology we use to encrypt data in AWS, including Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) server-side encryption. It’s the strongest industry-adopted and government-approved algorithm for encrypting data. To show how infeasible it is, let’s consider the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 256-bit keys (AES-256). What if an access control mechanism fails and allows access to the raw data on disk or traveling along a network link? If the data is encrypted using a strong key, as long as the decryption key is not on the same system as your data, it is computationally infeasible for an attacker to decrypt your data. AWS requires that you manage your own access control policies, and also supports defense in depth to achieve the best possible data protection.Įncryption is a critical component of a defense-in-depth strategy because it can mitigate weaknesses in your primary access control mechanism. Encryption as part of your security strategyĪn effective security strategy begins with stringent access control and continuous work to define the least privilege necessary for persons or systems accessing data. Therefore, protecting and managing the keys becomes a critical part of any encryption solution. A strong encryption algorithm relies on mathematical properties to produce ciphertext that can’t be decrypted using any practically available amount of computing power without also having the necessary key. There are several different types of encryption algorithms, all using different types of keys. For example, a simple phrase like “Hello World!” may look like “1c28df2b595b4e30b7b07500963dc7c” when encrypted. How and why does encryption work?Įncryption works by using an algorithm with a key to convert data into unreadable data (ciphertext) that can only become readable again with the right key. Encryption, when used correctly, can provide an additional layer of protection above basic access control. As more organizations look to operate faster and at scale, they need ways to meet critical compliance requirements and improve data security. Encryption is a critical component of a defense-in-depth strategy, which is a security approach with a series of defensive mechanisms designed so that if one security mechanism fails, there’s at least one more still operating.
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