With large-scale hacks and data breaches making the news so frequently, businesses have started to make cybersecurity a top priority. A lot of security buzzwords get thrown around, and one of the most popular is encryption. Even people who don’t know anything about cybersecurity know that they need to encrypt their data if they want to keep it safe. And while encryption is certainly a good thing, it isn’t a magic bullet that will solve all of a company’s security woes. Below are some facts and myths about encryption that will help provide a more comprehensive picture of enterprise cybersecurity needs.
Fact: Full disk encryption offers users a means of locking down devices so that files cannot be easily accessed without the necessary decryption key. When someone tries to pry without the proper code, encrypted files just look like a bunch of gibberish – not much use to a thief.
Fact: Without advanced security tools like encryption, an enterprise’s computers are easy targets. Intercept contributor Micah Lee explains that practically anyone can steal files from an unencrypted computer.
“If someone gets physical access to your computer and you aren’t using disk encryption, they can very easily steal all of your files,” wrote Lee. “It doesn’t matter if you have a good password because the attacker can simply boot to a new operating system off of a USB stick, bypassing your password, to look at your files. Or they can remove your hard disk and put it in a different computer to gain access. All they need is a screwdriver, a second computer, and a $10 USB enclosure.”
Myth: Encryption will protect from any kind of cyberattack. The truth is, a cybercriminal that is truly motivated probably has sophisticated methods at their disposal and can find ways around the encryption to unlock the data. Encryption protects a company if one of their devices is lost, stolen, or a random passerby attempts to use it. Bigger threats like malware and bug exploitations are still possible even with encryption.
The best way to protect against cybercriminals and malicious actors is to employ encryption as part of a more robust layered security solution. Large-scale attacks against enterprise networks are only going to become more common in the future, so it’s important that organizations implement a reliable defense strategy to protect against any possible threats they may be facing. Utilizing a layered security approach is one of the best ways to ensure that all endpoints are protected and a variety of attack methods can be defended against.
