Countering Misconceptions about Data Encryption

Countering
Misconceptions
about Data
Encryption:
State-of-the-Art
Techniques Discredit Myths
www.utimaco.comContents
Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Essential Characteristics of Encryption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Common Data Encryption Misconceptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Misconception #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Misconception #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Misconception #3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Misconception #4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Misconception #5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Misconception #6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Misconception #7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Misconception #8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Evaluating the Organization's Encryption Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Capitalizing on Advanced Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Advanced Utimaco Solutions Deliver Value and Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Trusted Solutions for Complete Data Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13About Utimaco-The Data Security Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Executive Summary 3
Executive SummaryAdvances in modern computing technology-ranging from faster processors to expandedmemory to new storage devices-have brought certain applications into mainstream use.For example, non-linear digital video editing has become practical on a large scale sincecompression algorithms, system microprocessors, and graphics processors have advancedenough to cope with the massive volumes of video data involved. Similarly, data encryption has been available for a number of decades, but practicalapplications have been largely restricted to high-end systems in the banking, military, andscientific sectors. In recent years, these restricted uses have been overcome by the greateravailability of desktop and notebook computers that compare favorably tosupercomputers of years past. Currently, state-of-the-art techniques capitalize on thefeatures in business and personal computer systems and deliver the data security benefitsof encryption to everyday users. Modern systems can routinely encrypt and decrypt datain the background using 128-bit (or larger) keys and advanced algorithms while causingminimal, nearly imperceptible effects on performance. Problems that limited theusefulness of past-generation encryption tools have been largely overcome by enhancedapplication designs, improved deployment processes, better maintenance tools, moreefficient algorithms, and standards-based architectures that simplify integration ofencryption solutions with network infrastructures.With these advances, encryption has become integral to today's business processes,providing an effective means of ensuring the privacy of information exchanged amongpartners, customers, staff members, or other parties. Encryption has been embraced in avariety of areas where the sensitivity of data being transferred is extremely important. Thisincludes the banking industry (particularly automated kiosks and teller machines),business transactions conducted over the Internet, email communications where privacyis essential, and mobile telephone technology.Despite the advances in encryption techniques and vastly improved computer capabilities,however, many of the fallacies and outdated understanding about encryption persist.Sometimes these myths are even being perpetuated in popular technology publicationswhere some auth... [download for more]