Securing Data: Encryption at Rest vs. in Motion in Microsoft 365 -An Overview

In today’s data-driven landscape, safeguarding sensitive information is paramount. Data breaches can lead to financial losses, regulatory penalties, and reputational harm. This underscores the importance of data encryption for organizations dealing with customer data, financial records, and more. While encryption is a familiar concept, it’s crucial to understand its application across different data states, each with distinct security demands.

Data in Motion: Protecting Information on the Move

When data is transferred from one location to another, it’s considered “in motion.” This encompasses actions like uploads, downloads, transfers, and email attachments. However, data in motion is susceptible to cyberattacks, particularly “Man in the Middle” attacks, where adversaries intercept data during transit. Examples include employees’ work-related data being backed up or data transfer during server migrations.

Data in Use: Guarding Active Data Interactions

Data in use involves active processing, editing, or accessing of information. This state applies to office applications, databases, system memory, and more. Yet, data in use is vulnerable as security measures like encryption can be temporarily lifted during processing. Instances include modifying business information in a database or data left in memory after using applications.

Data at Rest: Ensuring Dormant Data Security

Data at rest refers to inactive information not undergoing transfers or modifications. It resides on devices such as hard drives, external storage, and cloud platforms. Although seemingly secure, insider threats pose risks to data at rest. Attackers, often insiders, can exploit their access to file storage. Examples comprise documents stored on a user’s PC or files on company servers.

The Crucial Role of Encryption

Encryption plays a pivotal role in modern data security strategies. Utilizing intricate algorithms, encryption transforms data into unreadable content for unauthorized users. The encryption process involves encryption keys, algorithms, and encrypted data. After encryption, data storage location becomes flexible, but safeguarding encryption keys and algorithms is essential.

Navigating Regulatory Demands

As digital transformation advances, data protection regulations have emerged globally. Laws like GDPR, HIPAA, and more mandate encryption for safeguarding sensitive data. Non-compliance could lead to substantial fines and reputational damage.

Best Practices for Data Encryption

Effective data encryption strategies span all data states:

• Strengthen identity management using IAM and MFA.
• Apply granular access controls and obfuscation techniques.
• Limit user actions on sensitive data.
• Automate encryption for data in motion and in use.
• Secure sensitive email attachments through encryption.

Choosing the Right Encryption Approach

For comprehensive protection, a layered encryption approach is recommended:

• Encryption at rest denies user access to stored data.
• Layer other encryption styles as users access data, mitigating risks of data loss.

Dynamic Encryption in Microsoft 365

Data encryption and key management are integral to securing Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Server data. A third-party solution, NC Protect, enhances Microsoft’s encryption capabilities. It adds dynamic encryption through ABAC policies, providing real-time protection for sensitive data.

In Conclusion: Ensuring Comprehensive Data Security

While data encryption isn’t the sole solution for data protection, it’s a crucial element of an organization’s security arsenal. Comprehensive data protection involves encryption at rest, in motion, and in use. Dynamic encryption, coupled with robust policies, helps thwart insider threats and evolving cyber risks. NC Protect offers dynamic encryption in various Microsoft platforms, ensuring data security throughout its lifecycle.

“This article previously appeared on archtis.com and is reposted with permission from
archTIS

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ENCRYPTION KEY MANAGEMENT IN MICROSOFT 365

Introduction: In an ever-evolving digital landscape, encryption stands as a formidable shield for safeguarding sensitive information. As cloud technologies and Microsoft 365 (M365) applications like Teams and SharePoint Online become ubiquitous in modern workplaces, the need for robust encryption strategies has become paramount. However, the challenges of managing encryption keys in the cloud during the transition to Microsoft 365 can be daunting. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of encryption key management within the Microsoft 365 suite and explore ways to enhance data security in this dynamic ecosystem.

1. Encryption Trends:
   In an era marked by stringent global data protection standards and an alarming surge in data breaches, the adoption of encryption has seen exponential growth. Organizations recognize the significance of encryption in safeguarding sensitive data from prying eyes. However, despite robust data security policies, identifying and protecting sensitive data remain daunting challenges. The Ponemon Institute’s 2021 Global Encryption Trends Study sheds light on the persistent struggle faced by organizations to identify sensitive data accurately and execute a foolproof encryption strategy.
2. Understanding Encryption:
   At its core, encryption is an ingenious process that renders data unreadable to unauthorized individuals. By scrambling data using cryptographic keys, encryption ensures that even if data falls into the wrong hands, it remains incomprehensible without proper decryption. This powerful technique can be applied during data transmission (data in transit) or when data is stored on devices, servers, or cloud storage (data at rest). Understanding the nuances of encryption is essential to building an impregnable fortress around sensitive information.
3. Encryption Key Management and BYOK:
   The pivotal role of encryption keys cannot be understated, as they form the backbone of data protection in any encryption strategy. Securing encryption keys is critical for enterprises, especially when utilizing cloud service providers like Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services (AWS) for hosting keys. Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) emerges as a game-changer in key management, allowing organizations to retain control over their encryption keys even when hosted in the cloud. Additionally, organizations can opt for Hardware Security Modules (HSMs), physical devices that fortify encryption solutions and grant absolute control over encryption keys.
4. Enhancing Encryption in M365 and SharePoint:
   Within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, dynamic encryption plays a pivotal role in ensuring compliance and protecting data. Collaboration tools like SharePoint and M365 handle a vast amount of sensitive data, making dynamic encryption an imperative to safeguard confidentiality and maintain data integrity. A leading solution in this arena is NC Protect, which offers robust capabilities to identify and safeguard sensitive data within Microsoft 365. NC Protect’s dynamic classification and access control features ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive documents, providing an additional layer of protection.
5. How Encryption Works with NC Protect:
   NC Protect seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Purview Information Protection (MPIP) and Rights Management Services (RMS) controls to strengthen data security within M365. It effectively encrypts data at rest and empowers organizations to manage access and encryption policies across various M365 applications, including SharePoint Online and SharePoint Server. By incorporating NC Protect into your encryption strategy, you can reinforce data protection across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
6. NC Protect: NC Encrypt’s Document and Column Encryption:
   For organizations seeking greater control over encryption keys, NC Protect’s NC Encrypt module is a game-changing solution. With NC Encrypt, organizations can exercise full control over encryption keys, even employing Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) to retain control when utilizing cloud service providers. This integration ensures that existing encryption investments are maximized, and third-party Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) can be seamlessly incorporated to add an extra layer of security.

Conclusion: As the digital landscape evolves, encryption remains an essential pillar of data protection. Embracing robust encryption strategies, especially within the Microsoft 365 suite, is vital to safeguarding sensitive information in an increasingly interconnected world. By leveraging cutting-edge solutions like NC Protect and NC Encrypt, organizations can fortify their encryption key management practices, ensuring the utmost confidentiality and integrity of their data.

“This article previously appeared on archtis.com and is reposted with permission from
archTIS

The post ENCRYPTION KEY MANAGEMENT IN MICROSOFT 365 appeared first on Softlanding Ltd..