Encryption can play a vital role in becoming GDPR compliant – but shouldn’t be seen as the sole solution.

The 5th anniversary of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) brings with it a sense of hope and promise. Since its implementation, GDPR has revolutionized the way businesses approach data privacy and protection. It has empowered individuals by granting them greater control over their personal information, ensuring transparency and consent in data handling practices.

With the introduction of GDPR, there were hopes for enhanced data security measures, stricter regulations on data collection and processing, and increased accountability for organizations. This landmark legislation aimed to create a safer and more ethical digital landscape, fostering trust between businesses and consumers.

As we commemorate the anniversary of GDPR, we reflect on the positive impact it has had on data privacy and the continued aspirations for a world where any type of information is safeguarded and respected.

Encryption and its limits

GDPR recognizes encryption as an effective security measure to protect personal data. While the regulation does not mandate encryption in all cases, it encourages its use as a technical and organizational measure to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal data, particularly when there is a high risk to individuals' rights and freedoms.

Encryption is the heart of our business. We encrypt everything to know nothing. Nevertheless we encourage our customers to adopt a broad perspective - encryption is undoubtedly a critical component of a robust security strategy, but it is not the sole solution for safeguarding data.

A comprehensive security strategy encompasses multiple layers of protection, including encryption, to defend against various potential threats. Additional security measures, such as access controls, strong authentication, regular software updates, network monitoring, and employee training, must be implemented to fortify the overall security posture. By adopting a holistic approach to security, organizations can create a multi-faceted defense system that addresses vulnerabilities from different angles, reducing the likelihood of data breaches and ensuring comprehensive data protection.

Here are a few reasons why encryption should be seen as one part of a multi-faceted security strategy:

• Compliance and Legal Obligations: While encryption can help protect data from unauthorized access, it does not address all the requirements set forth by GDPR or other data protection regulations. GDPR mandates not only the protection of personal data but also encompasses various other aspects such as data minimization, purpose limitation, data retention periods, individual rights, and data breach notifications. Encryption alone cannot fulfill all these requirements.
• Data Handling and Access Control: Encryption focuses on protecting data while it is at rest or in transit. However, when data is in use, such as during processing or analysis, it needs to be decrypted to be meaningful. This introduces potential vulnerabilities, as data can be exposed during these stages if adequate security measures are not in place. Encryption does not necessarily address issues related to user access controls, privileged user management, or data handling practices, which are crucial aspects of data protection. An integrated solution like ours takes care of those aspects as well.
• Key Management: Encryption relies on the management of encryption keys, which are used to encrypt and decrypt data. Proper key management is vital for maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of encrypted data. However, managing encryption keys securely can be complex and challenging, especially when dealing with large-scale deployments or cloud-based environments. If encryption keys are compromised or mishandled, the entire security of the encrypted data can be undermined. Usability is key in encryption solutions like Tresorit as it provides a user-friendly interface and simplified key management processes, making it easier for individuals and organizations to adopt and maintain strong encryption practices while minimizing the risk of mishandling or compromising encryption keys.
• Insider Threats and Endpoint Security: Encryption primarily focuses on protecting data from external threats. However, it does not address the risks posed by insiders who have legitimate access to the data. Insider threats, whether intentional or unintentional, can bypass encryption by accessing data in its decrypted form. Additionally, encryption does not protect against endpoint security risks, such as malware or unauthorized access to systems or devices. Tresorit addresses these challenges by implementing additional security measures like access controls, user permissions, and comprehensive endpoint security protocols, complementing encryption to mitigate the risks associated with insider threats and endpoint vulnerabilities.
• Impact on Performance and Usability: Encryption can introduce additional computational overhead, which may impact system performance, especially in resource-constrained environments. Complex encryption algorithms can slow down data processing and transmission, which might not be acceptable in time-sensitive applications. Furthermore, encryption can introduce usability challenges, such as the need for key management, potential difficulties in data sharing, and increased complexity for end-users. Tresorit addresses these challenges by employing efficient encryption algorithms and optimizing their implementation to minimize computational overhead, ensuring smooth data processing and transmission, while also providing a user-friendly experience with intuitive key management and streamlined data sharing functionalities.

Encryption and usability combined

GDPR recognizes encryption as an effective means of reducing the risks associated with data breaches, as it transforms data into an unintelligible format that can only be decrypted with the appropriate keys. Encryption forms the backbone of our service, ensuring that user data remains private and protected from unauthorized access. However, we also recognize that usability is paramount in enabling individuals and businesses to embrace encryption effortlessly. By combining robust encryption with a user-friendly interface, we strive to make secure file sharing and collaboration accessible to everyone, without compromising on ease of use.