Types of Database Encryption: Best Practices for Securing Your Data

An Overview of Database Encryption

Database encryption is critical to data security because it ensures the
confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data contained in databases. The process
converts plaintext data into an unreadable ciphertext, which can only be decoded
with the correct encryption key.

Encryption Levels
Database encryption is applied at a variety of levels. At the storage (disk)
level, encryption safeguards data when it is physically stored, preventing theft or
illegal access to database files. Encrypting the whole database or particular tables
is customary at this level of encryption.
Column-level encryption is another level that focuses on encrypting specific
columns or fields inside the database. This method delivers a more granular data
encryption process, in which sensitive data such as social security numbers or credit
card information is protected while non-sensitive data remains unencrypted.
There is also the option of encrypting data in transit, ensuring that data stays
secure as it’s transmitted between the database server and clients. This is
accomplished by employing secure communication protocols such as SSL/TLS.

The Role of Keys in Database Encryption

Effective database encryption is as good as key management. Encryption keys
must be securely kept, maintained, and cycled regularly to ensure the security of
encrypted data. Software-based key management systems, or hardware security
modules (HSMs), are often utilized to protect the integrity and secrecy of
encryption keys.
Encryption and Performance Overheads
You should also consider the impact of encryption on system performance.
Database encryption is all about maintaining a careful consideration of speed and
overhead. The encryption and decryption operations add computational costs,
primarily as time delays and additional resource consumption for decrypting and
re-encrypting data.
When implementing database encryption at any level, you should
understand the impact on database speed and its role in application performance.
While encryption is essential, you should consider adding server resources to
compensate for the additional processing load that encryption imposes on the
system.

Types of Database Encryption

Database encryption is an umbrella term that includes several related and
independent methods for safeguarding sensitive data contained in a database.
Some examples of these methods.

• Data-At-Rest Encryption
This encryption method safeguards data in the database’s persistent storage
on disk or a similar physical medium.
When properly applied, Data-At-Rest Encryption ensures that critical information
remains encrypted and unreadable even if an attacker acquires physical access to
the database.
Full Disk Encryption (FDE) or Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) are two
popular approaches used for data-at-rest encryption.
Both methods protect the database by prohibiting unauthorized users from
directly accessing the data on the storage medium, ensuring data confidentiality
and integrity at all times.
 • Disk Level Encryption
Full Disk Encryption (FDE), also known as disk-level database encryption, is a
comprehensive data security approach that encrypts the entire database storage at
the disk level.
The process guarantees that all data saved on the physical drive, including
the operating system, database, and log files, is encrypted.
FDE secures data at rest, protecting it against unauthorized access, theft, and
data breaches. The encryption doesn’t affect authorized applications and users
since the encryption and decryption operations are transparent.
In the event of unauthorized physical storage access, encrypted data remains
inaccessible since the hacker needs appropriate decryption keys to convert
encrypted data into plaintext, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity.

• Data-in-Transit Encryption
Data-in-Transit encryption is a database encryption method that protects
data being transported between applications and the database server.
This method protects sensitive information from eavesdropping or
interception as data is sent over networks. The process involves using protocols
such as SSL/TLS, which encrypt and decrypt data packets as they travel between the
client and server.
Data-in-Transit encryption protects data during transmission by adding an
extra layer of security against man-in-the-middle attacks, unauthorized access, and
data modification. As a result, data stays unreadable and intact throughout its trip
between the application and the database.
How Does Database Encryption Work?
As mentioned earlier, database encryption works by encrypting plain text
data with cryptographic techniques and encryption keys.
The process includes the following moving parts:

• Data Encryption
When sensitive data is kept in a database, it undergoes encryption.
This process converts plaintext data into ciphertext using an encryption method
such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). This encryption technique is very
secure since it operates on fixed-size data blocks.

• Encryption Keys
An encryption key is a file containing a very long character string that an
encryption algorithm uses to execute encryption and decryption operations.
There are two kinds of encryption keys: symmetric keys and asymmetric keys.
Asymmetric encryption employs a pair of separate keys (public and private) for
encryption and decryption, whereas symmetric encryption uses the same key for
both encryption and decryption.

• Proper Key Management

Any database encryption is as good as the key management process it employs.
Encryption keys must be generated, kept, and managed securely to prevent
unauthorized use. We highly recommend using industry-standard key management
platforms to ensure secure access and use of encryption keys.

• Data Storage
The ciphertext is also kept in the same database as the plaintext. DBMS offers
several ways of securely storing this data. For instance, column-level encryption
encrypts selected columns holding sensitive data while leaving the rest unaltered.
 • Data Retrieval
When the DBMS receives a data retrieval request, it checks the request
credentials to verify its validity. Once verified, the DBMS uses the appropriate
decryption key to decrypt the ciphertext. This data is then transferred to the data
transmission method to send the data using Data-in-Transit methods.

• Data Access Control

In addition to encryption, access control techniques are critical for limiting
access to encrypted data. These methods ensure that only authorized individuals
can use the decryption keys to access encrypted information.

Database Encryption Methods

Database encryption methods preserve the confidentiality and integrity of
data contained in a database. Over the years, various vendors have developed
various methods to encrypt data in the database. Let’s discuss some popular
methods of data encryption.

Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)

TDE is a database encryption mechanism that automatically encrypts data at
rest, making the operation invisible to applications and users.
During the process, TDE encrypts the entire database, including backups and log
files, to ensure strict data privacy in the event of illegal access or theft.
Data is automatically decrypted during a data retrieval request, allowing apps and
users to access the data without needing manual decryption.
API-based Decryption Methods
API methods are internal DBMS services or third-party platforms (or
encryption libraries) that allow users to interact with encrypted data.
These services cover encryption and decryption processes, key creation and
management, and data integrity checks.
Applications and processes use these approaches to save and retrieve
encrypted data from databases. The API methods make it easier for developers to
implement encryption in applications to ensure data stays unreadable without the
correct decryption keys.

The Encryption/Decryption Plugins

The plugin technique refers to a modular approach to database encryption
that integrates encryption features as external components into the database
management systems.
Database administrators can add or uninstall these encryption plugins
without requiring changes to the underlying database platform.
The plugin mechanism allows users to select the encryption algorithms and
key management techniques that best meet their security needs. As a result,
administrators can use various encryption standards and smoothly update or
replace encryption features as needed.
The plugin method protects sensitive data without affecting the integrity and
performance of the core database system.

Column-level Database Encryption

Column-level database encryption protects specific columns in a database
table. It enables granular data protection by encrypting sensitive data while leaving
other columns unprotected. This guarantees that authorized users with decryption
access can see the encrypted data.
Symmetric Database Encryption
Symmetric database encryption processes use the same secret key for data
encryption and decryption. It’s a simple and effective solution with minimum
overheads. However, the main challenge in adopting this method is securely
keeping and disseminating the secret key among authorized users.

Asymmetric Database Encryption

Asymmetric database encryption, commonly known as public-key
encryption, encrypts and decrypts data using a pair of public and private keys.
Data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted with the associated
private key, offering a more secure method of protecting sensitive data.
Asymmetric database encryption also solves the problem of managing key
distribution by separating public and private keys.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Database Encryption

Now that you understand how database encryption works and how to set up
and manage encrypted databases, let’s take a closer look at the benefits and
drawbacks of the encryption process.
Advantages of Database Encryption
Database encryption brings a range of benefits to database operations, such as:

• Robust Data Security

Encryption adds extra security to sensitive data stored in a database. It assures
that even if unauthorized users access the database, the encrypted data remains
unreadable and unusable without encryption keys.

• Compliance with Data Privacy Regulations

Encryption is often the core requirement of data privacy and security standards
compliance. Setting up and maintaining encrypted databases indicates a proactive
attitude toward data protection as laid down in standards such as HIPAA, PCI DSS,
and GDPR.

• Defense Against Insider Threats

Encryption is a great way of protecting sensitive data from insider threats, where
authorized personnel abuse their access privileges and leak sensitive data. Even if
someone with access tries to view or copy encrypted data without sufficient
authorization, the operation will fail, and the system administrators will be notified
of the incident.

• Secure Data at Rest and in Transit

Database encryption safeguards data at rest (while it is kept on storage
media) and in transit (when it is transmitted). It protects sensitive data from one
end to the other so that it remains protected during security incidents.

• Increased Trust and Customer Confidence

Encryption displays a dedication to data security and privacy. It fosters trust
and confidence among consumers, partners, and stakeholders by assuring them
that their sensitive information is secure within the organization’s database.
Disadvantages of Database Encryption
Despite all the above advantages, encrypting databases can introduce
challenges to business operations. Some critical challenges of encrypting
databases.

• Impact on Performance
The encryption and decryption operations might add overhead and thus impact
database performance.
In most cases, encryption and decryption procedures require additional
resources and time. This slows down the query response times and eventually
affects user experience.

• Complexity and Key Management

Encryption key management is complex, especially with huge databases
supporting multiple remote users and processes.
Secure key storage, distribution, rotation, and access controls are all part of the
key management process, and any lapse in this process significantly reduces
encryption’s efficacy.

• Limited Search and Analysis Capabilities

Without decryption, encrypted data is illegible, limiting the ability to execute
searches, data analysis, and other database functions that access data.
Administrators must add multiple steps and dedicate additional resources to
decrypt data to support data search and analysis processes.

• Potential Vulnerabilities
Encryption is not infallible. Implementation problems, poor key management,
corrupted systems, or side-channel assaults can introduce vulnerabilities that
attackers can exploit. We highly recommend regular security audits, key rotation,
and reassignment to address any possible vulnerabilities.
 • Increased Operational Costs
Implementing and maintaining a strong encryption solution may incur additional
expenditures, such as purchasing encryption software and hardware, staff training,
and managing encryption keys. Database administrators should carefully weigh the
expense of encryption against the benefits of the secured data.
Before deploying database encryption, assessing your organization’s particular
requirements and issues is critical. A thorough risk assessment and an awareness
of the possible advantages and limits of encryption aid in determining the best way
to safeguard your database.