Encrypting Sensitive Information
How encryption protects important data
Encryption turns information into code that can only be read with the right key, and it's one of the most effective protections for sensitive data because it works even when other measures fail, such as when a file is sent by mistake to the wrong person or a device is lost. Many everyday tools already include encryption enabled by default, such as a modern computer's disk or a phone's storage, but individual documents, such as spreadsheets with financial data, often require additional protection that has to be enabled manually, for example with a password when saving the file. An important nuance is that encryption protects content while it's stored or in transit, but doesn't prevent someone with legitimate access, such as the person who receives the key, from improperly sharing that information afterward, so it still needs to be combined with good practices about whom the access key is shared with and how.