Encryption; Good or Not so Good?

Today’s security measures can range from complete encryption of the entire computer or server, or it can mean encrypting only those items that are sensitive in nature. A complete encryption may seem like the best option to keep data secure, but this can slow down a system so dramatically that it is hard to complete other tasks. A complete encryption can take up to 60% of the machines processing speed just to encrypt and unencrypt data that needs to be accessed by users. Users may be left thinking their computer needs repair or that the encryption is not working as it should.  

Some encryption systems allow data to be protected on the system it is stored on, but still have issues when transmitting the data to another person or server. Encrypted sites that have a SSL (secure socket layer) or the TLS (transport layer security) protect the site and its user from hackers who are constantly looking for ways into the secure data. SSL and TLS are good for security in one stored location, but when it comes to transmitting the data an encryption key is needed to decode the data.  

Other encryption systems include client-based encryption where data leaves in an email as a long strand of scrambled letters. Another system is the PGP (Pretty good privacy) and S/Mime (Secure/Multipurpose internet mail extensions), which involve installing software to create both public and private keys, which must be registered on both ends and received by both sides for the encryption and decryption to occur. Mimecast is also a secure way to send and receive emails. Mimecast’s offers threat protection, adaptability, durability, and recoverability allowing user to quickly recover data that may have been destroyed. 

While much of the data on the internet is now sent as encrypted data, without the proper key it can go unscanned, giving user a false sense of security about the data they are transmitting or receiving. TLS is a complex protocol; with many different certificates that need to be exchanged as well as negotiations over cipher suites to determine how the data should be protected or encrypted. There are so many different versions of TLS and most web services and application will do things very differently from one another. This type of encryption has rendered many firewalls irrelevant due to the blind spot of data that it cannot read just being ignored.  

The best way to protect information from hackers would be to encrypt the data as it is being ready for transmission and making sure the recipients have a key to unencrypt it on their end. Thus, keeping data safe as its transmitted over the internet. Sophos has developed a solution that offers high performance, top security, inspection of all traffic, a great user experience, powerful policy, and unmatched visibility. This new system is known as the XG Firewall v18. This new security system no longer leaves your system blind to what is does not understand, while keeping the performance up on your system.  

Encrypting data is a way to safeguard it from those who seek to steal or modify it for nefarious purposes. But what does this mean for the user? It can mean a massive slow down on the system you are using, or it can mean weaker encryption that allows data to be more easily hacked. So, what is the best way to keep your data safe and your CPU’s running at a good pace? We can help you find the solution that is right for you. Contact us today

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Davis Advanced Technologies