You have probably seen many popular communication technologies declaring that they use end-to-end encryption to protect your data. End-to-end encryption is often thought of as the most private and secure way to communicate online and it is now more accessible than ever.
Sounds great – but what exactly does end-to-end encryption mean? How does it work? Does end-to-end encryption offer better and more secure communication?
In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more as we discover how end-to-end encryption ensures secure communication.
What Is End-to-End Encryption and How Does It Work?
Encryption describes the practice of making data or information indecipherable to unauthorized third parties. It works by transforming data into a code that can only be decoded through an authorized decryption process. These complex transformations make it virtually impossible to decode the data without proper permissions.
End-to-end encryption focuses on protecting data as it is sent from one device to another. The data is encrypted on the sender’s device and decrypted on the recipient’s device. If someone attempts to intercept the data during transfer, it is unreadable.
How does end-to-end encryption differ from other encryption practices?
Unlike traditional encryption practices, end-to-end encryption is a complete solution from sender to receiver. Not only is the data encrypted in transit, but it is also never decrypted on the server. In contrast, at-rest and in-transit methods only encrypt in certain contexts.
Encryption in transit
As the name suggests, this type of encryption safeguards data as it travels between two systems. Data encrypted in transit is protected from malicious activity as it travels from sender to receiver. For example, data is in transit when using messaging services, uploading information to an app or even using contact center IVR systems.
Encryption at rest
Encryption at rest is a method of protecting data that is not in use. Often used alongside other data protection measures such as authentication and access control, encryption at rest makes stored data less vulnerable to data breaches.
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End-to-end encryption is unique in that only the sender and receiver can decrypt the data. The data is encrypted at the point of transmission and an obfuscated message is delivered which only the end-user can decrypt. The encryption and decryption are limited to the end-to-end users and not the server itself.
End-to-end encryption is therefore a much more private method of secure communication when compared with other encryption practices.
Benefits of End-to-End Encryption
End-to-end encryption is a powerful tool for data protection and secure communication. There are many advantages to using end-to-end encryption which we will discover in this section.
Data security
When you use end-to-end encryption, it is much more difficult for hackers to access your data. Even if hackers are able to compromise the servers where encrypted data is stored, they would not be able to decrypt and read the data.
With end-to-end encryption, even system administrators accounts are not given access to encrypted data. Only the senders and receivers have the necessary credentials to decrypt the data. Hacks against admin accounts therefore don’t necessarily result in a data breach and this significantly mitigates the risk of third party data breaches.
Data integrity
Since data is encrypted at the point of transmission and only decrypted when received by the intended recipient, data is protected against tampering attempts. End-to-end encryption ensures data integrity across the whole journey of a message.
Using cryptographic techniques, end-to-end encryption protects against data modification. Senders can rest assured that the data remains unchanged throughout the transmission process.
Privacy
End-to-end encryption provides higher levels of privacy when compared to other methods of encryption. It prevents anyone from accessing your data other than the intended recipient – even the service provider. This helps to protect data from insider threats as well as external attacks.
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For example, if you use an email service provider who does not use end-to-end encryption, it can technically access the data stored within your emails at any time. On the other hand, using an end-to-end encrypted email service gives you reassurance that no one without authorization is reading your emails.
Compliance
Compliance with regulations such as ITAR and CMMC, or fraud-preventing frameworks such as COSO (read here if you’re wondering: “what is COSO framework?”) is essential for any organization handling sensitive data. Many compliance frameworks require total encryption protection for data at all points of storage and transmission.
Implementing end-to-end encryption not only ensures secure communication but also plays a significant role in meeting compliance standards.
How End-to-End Encryption is used
Due to the benefits explained above, end-to-end encryption is becoming more popular across industries that rely on secure communication. Let’s take a look at some real examples of how end-to-end encryption is being used in today’s world.
Messaging Apps
Popular messaging app WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to ensure secure communication among its users. When a user sends a message, WhatsApp encrypts the data using a unique private encryption key on the sender’s device. The encrypted message is then transmitted to the intended recipient and can only be decrypted by that user. The receiving device possesses the corresponding private decryption key. Even if the message was somehow intercepted, it would be unreadable.
Signal is another open-source messaging app providing secure communication for its users. Prioritizing customer data security and privacy, it uses end-to-end encryption to ensure only the sender and receiver of a message can read it. This applies to all forms of communication within the Signal app, including text messages, group chats, voice calls, and video calls. It's no wonder Signal has been praised and endorsed by privacy and cybersecurity experts in the industry.
Email services
You may be surprised to learn that many email service providers do not use end-to-end encryption. However, email services that use end-to-end encryption uphold high standards of data security and privacy.
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One such provider is ProtonMail, who use sophisticated end-to-end encryption practices to block all unauthorized users from accessing the data exchanged between its users - including ProtonMail itself.
As well as the benefits that come with end-to-end encryption such as protection from surveillance, hacking, and other security threats, ProtonMail includes additional security features. Two-factor authentication and zero-knowledge password storage further protect user data and make ProtonMail a leading provider of secure communication via email.
How to Implement End-to-End Encryption
Whether they are financial institutions, CCaaS providers, or insurance companies, today’s businesses have more data than ever that needs protecting. If you’re looking to up your data protection game with end-to-end encryption, we are here to guide you through three simple tips on implementing it effectively.
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Use strong encryption keys
If you were going to protect your most prized possessions with a physical lock and key, would you choose a flimsy lock or something more robust? Of course, you would opt for something that was strong and difficult to tamper with. The same should be the case for your digital data.
Data encryption essentially transforms your stored data into a code that can only be deciphered using a special “key”. This key unlocks the data and makes it readable. Without it, the data makes no sense, so even if someone was able to access it, they wouldn’t understand it.
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Strong encryption keys are essential when it comes to data protection and secure communication with end-to-end encryption. So, how do you create a strong encryption key?
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Make it long. It goes without saying that a longer encryption key is harder to crack.
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Avoid the obvious. As tempting as it is, avoid using personal information such as names or birthdays. These are often easy to find out and therefore easy to guess.
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Mix it up. Use a mixture of letters, numbers, and special characters to make your encryption key unique.
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Change it often. It is good practice to regularly update your encryption keys as an extra layer of security.
Remember that your encryption key is protecting your data. Don’t underestimate the power of a strong encryption key because the stronger it is, the safer your data is too.
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Use two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) acts as an additional layer of protection when using end-to-end encryption. 2FA is a security measure that requires an additional form of verification before allowing access to the data in question. Remember that strong lock you’ve installed on the front door? This is like needing an extra key to unlock it.
For example, you may enter your password, but then be asked to verify your identity using a specific authentication app or by entering a code sent to your mobile device. If a hacker happens to guess your password, but doesn’t have access to your authentication method – access denied.
When combined with end-to-end encryption, 2FA acts as a deterrent to hackers and gives you peace of mind that your data is highly protected and secure.
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Keep software up to date
If you’ve ever hit “snooze” on a software update notification, you wouldn’t be the only one. However, these updates can often include important security improvements which are essential for data protection and secure communication.
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The digital realm is fast-paced and ever-evolving, so it makes sense that there is a constant stream of new threats. To ensure you are protected against the latest security threats, you need to keep your software up to date.
In doing so, you maximize the protection you are getting with end-to-end encryption.
Securing login credentials with end-to-end encryption
So, are you ready to take your data protection and secure communication to the next level? If so, you need end-to-end encryption services. Using secure encryption keys to protect data while at rest and in transit, end-to-end encryption is designed to prioritize privacy and security.
TeamPassword keeps your login credentials and other records safe in an AES 256-bit encrypted vault. Each teammate is given their own login to the vault, so that the data is encrypted locally and no one else, not even TeamPassword, can see it.
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