What is Storage Encryption? | Thales (2024)

FAQs

What does storage encryption mean? ›

Storage encryption technologies use one or more cryptographic keys to encrypt and decrypt the data that they protect. If a key is lost or damaged, it may not be possible to recover the encrypted data from the computer.

Check if your device is encrypted (Windows 10 Home edition)

Select the settings cogwheel icon. Select 'Update & Security'. In the left-hand column, select 'Device encryption'. If you see the message 'Device encryption is on' with the option to 'Turn off', your hard drive is encrypted.

Device users do not even have to think about the encryption ever again. If a laptop is ever lost, stolen, or decommissioned inappropriately, the odds are that the data will remain safe even then, because encrypted drives are extremely difficult to access without knowing the decryption key.

Device encryption protects your files and folders from unauthorized access if your device is lost or stolen. It makes the data inaccessible and unreadable to people who don't have a passcode. Before you can access school or work resources, your organization might require you to: Encrypt your device.

Device Encryption is a Windows feature that enables BitLocker encryption automatically for the Operating System drive and fixed drives. It's particularly beneficial for everyday users who want to ensure their personal information is safe without having to manage complex security settings.

Encryption is used to protect data from being stolen, changed, or compromised and works by scrambling data into a secret code that can only be unlocked with a unique digital key.

Data encryption converts data from a readable, plaintext format into an unreadable, encoded format: ciphertext. Users and processes can only read and process encrypted data after it is decrypted. The decryption key is secret, so it must be protected against unauthorized access.

How do I find hidden encrypted files? ›

Type command prompt in the Search. Right-click the Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Type dir D: /a:h /b /s and press Enter to show hidden files in drive D (if you want to see your hidden files in any other hard drive, just type its letter instead of D, as we only use it here as an example).

File encryption helps protect your data by encrypting it. Only someone with the right encryption key (such as a password) can decrypt it.

Drawbacks of full-disk encryption

If users forget their password and lose their recovery key, the device will be inaccessible to them, and they will be locked out just like an intruder. Data in transit isn't protected, so data shared between devices and through email is still vulnerable to hacking.

Encrypting your external drive is the best way to protect your data. Depending on your operating system, you can use built-in encryption software like Disk Utility on Mac or BitLocker on Windows. Another option is to use third-party disk encryption software such as Cryptomator.

Hackers can break encryption to access the data using a number of different methods. The most common method is stealing the encryption key itself. Another common way is intercepting the data either before it has been encrypted by the sender or after it has been decrypted by the recipient.

Encryption is used to protect data from being stolen, changed, or compromised and works by scrambling data into a secret code that can only be unlocked with a unique digital key.

Encrypting backups gives you personal control over your personal information. It's a level of protection that goes way beyond an email password, for example. If your iPhone gets stolen or you leave your computer or iPad on an airplane, your information is locked securely with the password only you know.

Encryption stores your data in a form that can be read only when your phone or tablet is unlocked. Unlocking your encrypted device decrypts your data. Encryption can add protection in case your device is stolen.