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Data Encryption: A Complete Guide to Protecting Data with Encryption - Rtek

A complete guide to encrypting data in backups. Learn about types of encryption, keys, and how to make sure your data is protected with strong encryption.

Rtek February 5, 2025 6 min read
encryption cybersecurity backups data protection privacy

Data Encryption: A Complete Guide to Protecting Data with Encryption

Data encryption is one of the most important parts of cybersecurity. It makes sure data can’t be read by unauthorized people, even if it was stolen or breached. In this article we’ll explain what encryption is, why it matters, how it works, and how to implement it properly in your backups.

What Is Data Encryption?

Data encryption is the process of converting data into code that can’t be read without a decryption key. Only someone with the right key can decrypt the data.

Why Is Encryption So Important?

Protection against data theft:

  • Even if data is stolen, it can’t be read
  • Protection against unauthorized access
  • Protection against data leaks

Regulatory compliance:

Customer trust:

  • Customers trust you more
  • Protecting privacy
  • A better reputation

Types of Encryption

Symmetric Encryption

Symmetric encryption uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt:

Advantages:

  • Very fast
  • Efficient
  • Suitable for large amounts of data

Disadvantages:

  • The key has to be shared securely
  • If the key is stolen, all the data is exposed
  • Key management is more complex

Examples:

  • AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)
  • DES (Data Encryption Standard)
  • Blowfish

Asymmetric Encryption

Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys, a public key and a private key:

Advantages:

  • No need to share keys securely
  • More secure
  • Suitable for exchanging keys

Disadvantages:

  • Slower
  • Requires a lot of resources
  • Not suitable for large amounts of data

Examples:

  • RSA
  • ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography)
  • Diffie-Hellman

Combining Both

In practice, the two are combined:

  • Asymmetric encryption for exchanging keys
  • Symmetric encryption for encrypting the data
  • The combination provides security plus performance

Encryption at Rest and in Transit

Encryption at Rest

Encryption at rest is the encryption of data stored on disk:

Why does it matter?

  • Protection against stolen disks
  • Protection against physical access
  • Protection against unauthorized access

Where does it happen?

  • On hard drives
  • On cloud servers
  • In databases

Encryption in Transit

Encryption in transit is the encryption of data while it’s being transferred:

Why does it matter?

  • Protection against eavesdropping
  • Protection against man-in-the-middle attacks
  • Protection against data theft during transfer

Where does it happen?

  • When uploading a backup to the cloud
  • When downloading a backup from the cloud
  • When transferring data over the network

Encryption Keys

Key Management

Where should you store keys?

  • In a secure location
  • Not with the data
  • With a backup of the keys

Who controls the keys?

  • You or the provider?
  • Where are the keys stored?
  • How are the keys protected?

Backing up keys:

  • You must back up your keys
  • If you lose a key, you lose the data
  • Store them in a secure location

Types of Keys

Shared keys:

  • The same key for all users
  • Simple but less secure
  • Suitable for small businesses

Individual keys:

  • A key for each user
  • More secure
  • Suitable for large businesses

Enterprise keys:

  • Organization-level keys
  • Centralized control
  • Suitable for large organizations

Encryption Standards

AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)

AES is the most widely used encryption standard:

Versions:

  • AES-128 - 128-bit
  • AES-192 - 192-bit
  • AES-256 - 256-bit (the strongest)

Why AES?

  • Very strong
  • Fast
  • Approved by governments

RSA

RSA is the most widely used asymmetric encryption standard:

Versions:

  • RSA-2048 - 2048-bit
  • RSA-4096 - 4096-bit (stronger)

Why RSA?

  • Very secure
  • Widely used
  • Approved by governments

TLS/SSL

TLS/SSL is the standard for encryption in transit:

Versions:

  • TLS 1.2
  • TLS 1.3 (the newest)

Why TLS/SSL?

  • Standard
  • Secure
  • Very widely used

How to Implement Encryption Properly

Implementation Steps

1. Choose a standard:

  • Choose an encryption standard (AES-256 recommended)
  • Choose a standard for transfer (TLS 1.3)
  • Check compatibility

2. Set up keys:

  • Create strong keys
  • Store keys in a secure location
  • Back up the keys

3. Deploy:

  • Deploy encryption in your systems
  • Set up automatic encryption
  • Check that everything works

4. Test:

  • Check that encryption works
  • Check that decryption works
  • Check performance

5. Manage on an ongoing basis:

  • Review keys periodically
  • Update keys as needed
  • Monitor encryption

Encryption in Backups

Why Does Encryption Matter in Backups?

Protection against stolen backups:

  • Even if a backup is stolen, it can’t be read
  • Protection against unauthorized access
  • Protection against leaks

Regulatory compliance:

Trust:

  • Customers trust you more
  • Protecting privacy
  • A better reputation

How to Make Sure Your Backups Are Encrypted

In local backup:

  • Encrypt the disk
  • Encrypt the files
  • Protect the keys

In cloud backup:

  • Encrypt before uploading
  • Check that the provider encrypts
  • Protect the keys

In hybrid backup:

  • Encrypt in every location
  • Use the same encryption
  • Protect the keys

A Managed Solution with Rtek

At Rtek, we provide a fully managed backup solution with encryption, as part of our cybersecurity services:

What’s Included?

Strong encryption:

  • AES-256 for data encryption
  • TLS 1.3 for transfer encryption
  • Secure keys

Key management:

  • Professional key management
  • Secure storage
  • Key backup

Support:

  • Professional 24/7 support
  • Fast response to problems
  • Help with encryption

Why a Managed Solution?

Encryption requires technical expertise and ongoing management. A managed solution ensures:

  • Strong, correct encryption
  • Professional key management
  • Ongoing maintenance
  • Savings in time and budget

Summary

Data encryption is critical for protecting data. It makes sure data can’t be read by unauthorized people, even if it was stolen or breached.

Strong encryption in your backups, including encryption at rest and in transit, with professional key management, makes sure your data is always protected.

If you want to implement professional, managed encryption in your backups, we at Rtek are here to help. Contact us for a tailored quote.