Backup Encryption Explained: Choosing the Right Security Approach

Backup encryption is extremely important for safeguarding sensitive data during various stages such as storage, transiting, and processing. To exclude the possibility of disclosure or theft, information is converted from its original format to the encoded text. After the encryption only users with the decryption keys can return information back to its original format.

Here in the article, we will dive deeper into the explanation of backup encryption, its benefits, some common encryption methods, and more.

Understanding Backup Encryption

Backup encryption is an important feature that is needed to encrypt the information before its storage in the backup system. So, that unauthorized users won’t get access to the sensitive data, because one would need a decryption key.

Several methods are commonly used. The first one is called asymmetric encryption and it functions with the help of a public key that is used both for the encryption and decryption of the information.

The second option is called asymmetric encryption where processes are connected with the usage of the private key for the decryption and a public key for the encryption of the data.

Encrypted vs. Unencrypted Backups: What’s the Difference?

Probably the main difference between the unencrypted and encrypted backup is that you are getting a way better security level with the encrypted backup. With the unencrypted option, unauthorized users can easily review available information and use it, because data is stored as a regular text.

The major differences:

• Security  Unencrypted backups are extremely vulnerable to all possible attacks and leakages of sensitive information. Whereas encrypted backups are way more secure and guarantee higher standards, because of the decryption keys.
• Prices of recovery Of course, encrypted backups are more expensive options at the initial stage. However, when we are talking about reputational losses, fines, and other issues that come together with data leakages, then you have a huge benefit.
• Compliance There are lots of regulations that specifically relate to the necessity of encrypted backups in order to improve the security level. Specifically, we are talking about HIPAA and other practices for data safety.
  

The Importance of Encrypting Backups

In the online world when every hour some leakage of information or attack occurs, the availability of encrypting backup is no longer a question, but a necessity. There are so many risks that businesses should be really cautious with sensitive information otherwise some serious consequences might happen.

The major benefit of encryption is that even once the information is accessed by unauthorized users, it will not be readable to them.  

Key Benefits of Backup Encryption

Here are some benefits of the encryption:

• Protection of the information. The usage of encrypted backups guarantees that all your sensitive information will not be accessed by unauthorized users so you can be sure in the security of your information.
• Optimization of the performance. Most algorithms of encryption don’t influence the performance characteristics. That means that regular backups will occur without any issues with performance.
• Proactive approach towards new threats. Encryption technologies are regularly changing according to the new cyberspace threats so it is possible to prevent most attacks.
• Compliance. Encryption guarantees compliance with various regulations under PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.
• Integrity of data. This means that data won’t be changed during transmission or storage. That is why unauthorized modification can be easily detected.
• Secure transferring of information. All the data is encrypted during the transfer so it is almost impossible to lose sensitive information between the locations.
• Reliability of the cloud storage. The trust in cloud storage is rapidly growing because of all the available security mechanisms and approaches. The security level of cloud storage is really high nowadays.
• Minimizing the risks of data leakage. Even during the information leakage, there is no need to worry because the data cannot be decrypted.   

How Backup Encryption Works

The encryption functions by changing the usual text into “ciphertext”. This process is done via the usage of cryptographic models which are called algorithms. They change the encrypted data into the usual text again, we are using the decryption key. This is a specific password or string of symbols that is created by the same algorithm. The key is so complex that it is almost impossible to detect it even with the usage of brute force.

Encryption at Rest vs. Encryption in Transit: Key Differences

To understand the whole process of encryption, it is crucial to know about encryption in transit and encryption at rest. The last one helps with the securing of the information on the server/disk. The most usual methods of this kind of encryption are database encryption and full-disk encryption. Such kind of encryption is extremely important because even when someone gets access to the physical storage, this attacker will only access protected information.

In transit encryption functions by protecting information while moving from one location to another. Such kind of protection can be achieved with the help of SSL/TLS and HTTPS protocols. This method is extremely effective against hijacking.

The Role of Key Management Services in Encryption

The quality of the encryption fully depends on the key management which is conducted via the centralized system. With the help of such services, the security of the data becomes higher and the monitoring of control is way simplified.

The services for the key management have lots of documentation so that users will have a deeper understanding of how they work. So, you can check that free information about the basics of this service.

The major feature of such services is the centrally managed keys. That means users can easily rotate, generate, and destroy asymmetric and symmetric keys.

The diversity of the cloud service providers offers KMS so that users can easily store their keys without the necessity to worry about cloud management. Such services deal with lots of important security tasks while clients are just accessing necessary keys.

Most Common Encryption Methods for Backups

Except for just using encrypted backups, there are also some great methods and practices to improve the level of protection even more. Here are some of them:

• Usage of strong algorithms. For the implementation of strong encryption algorithms, users should first check their equipment characteristics and what algorithms can be supported by them. The highest standard that is available is AES, it is used by the majority of the financial and governmental organizations.
• Updates of the keys. Regular key updates are almost a necessity to support the needed security level.
• Access control. Try to organize the process in such a way that only specific users can access certain data sets. For even more protection, you can use multi-factor authentication.

What is Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) Encryption?

BYOK encryption is a popular practice where companies get control over the keys and work with the necessary key management tasks rather than fully relying on the provider.

Here are the major benefits of BYOK:

• Flexibility. You can easily bring keys to different parts of the cloud environment and you have an entire control while doing this.
• Control. Clients have the option to rotate/control the keys depending on the company policy.
• Compliance. This practice supports regulatory requirements guaranteeing that the keys are in your own possession.

This approach can be extremely beneficial for the companies working with sensitive information because they receive entire control over the security of encrypted data.

Secure Your Backups with Spanning’s Encryption Solutions

To protect your backup, there are lots of great solutions and one of them is Spanning Backup. The benefits of this option are:

• Users can manage and restore their backups.
• Easy in terms of administration and extremely powerful.
• For accessing more securely app-level authentication is used.
• Availability of diverse backup options such as automated, on-demand, and others.