Many websites use a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) which encrypts data sent to and from the website, stopping hackers from accessing the data while it’s in transit. It’s also worth noting that encryption plays a significant role in ensuring the safety of your internet browsing.

We’ll explore these encryption schemes in a little more detail later. Modern encryption techniques have gone through numerous iterations, but they can mostly be broken down into two categories: symmetric key algorithms and asymmetric key algorithms. The ancient Greeks encrypted messages using a tool called the “scytale,” while in World War II, Germany used their famous Enigma machine to protect military and diplomatic transmissions. In some form or another, encryption has existed since the dawn of recorded history. Encryption is one of the best ways to keep your business’s confidential data protected against cyber security threats. From personal data about your employees (e.g., their addresses, social security numbers, tax codes, etc.) to details about your company’s finances and bank accounts, you’re likely to have a large amount of data that needs to be restricted to authorized parties.

Now imagine what would happen if that information fell into the wrong hands. Think about how much important information is held on your company’s files, folders, and devices. Essentially, an algorithm is used to scramble the data, before the receiving party unscrambles the data using a decryption key. The unscrambled message contained within unencrypted files is referred to as “plaintext,” whereas in its encrypted form, the message is referred to as “ciphertext.” Encryption is the technical process by which information is converted to secret code, thereby obscuring the data you’re sending, receiving, or storing.

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