A GDPR encryption service involves specialised tools and processes that protect personal data by converting it into an unreadable format. Encryption secures sensitive information, ensuring only authorised individuals can access or decode the data, helping organisations meet GDPR’s security requirements.

GDPR requires organisations to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data, especially during processing and storage. Encryption is a key measure, as it protects data from unauthorised access and significantly reduces the risk of data breaches. In the event of a breach, encrypted data is less likely to be exploited, minimising potential harm.

GDPR recommends encrypting any personal data that, if exposed, could impact individuals’ privacy or security. This may include:

• Personal identifiers: Names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers
• Financial information: Bank details, credit card numbers
• Sensitive data: Health records, biometric data, racial or ethnic information
• Operational data: Any data that could link to an individual’s identity or lead to data misuse

Encryption involves using algorithms to convert readable data (plaintext) into a coded format (ciphertext). Only individuals with the correct decryption key can convert it back to readable data. Common encryption methods include symmetric encryption, where the same key is used to encrypt and decrypt data, and asymmetric encryption, which uses a pair of keys (public and private).

GDPR does not mandate specific encryption standards but suggests using ‘state of the art’ measures. Commonly accepted standards include:

• AES (Advanced Encryption Standard): A widely used symmetric encryption standard.
• RSA (Rivest–Shamir–Adleman): An asymmetric encryption technique often used for secure data transmission.
• TLS (Transport Layer Security): Protects data in transit, commonly used in web communications.

Organisations should select standards based on the sensitivity of their data and industry best practices.

Encryption services provide:

• Enhanced data security: Protecting sensitive data from unauthorised access or data breaches.
• GDPR compliance: Meeting GDPR’s security requirements and demonstrating accountability.
• Reduced risk of fines: Minimising exposure to regulatory penalties in the event of a data breach.
• Increased customer trust: Showing commitment to data privacy and security, which builds consumer confidence.

GDPR requires data breach reporting if there is a risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms. However, encrypted data may be exempt if it is rendered unintelligible to unauthorised parties, thus posing minimal risk. This exemption only applies if encryption keys are also protected and not compromised in the breach.

• Data in transit: Encryption secures data as it is transmitted between systems, preventing interception by unauthorised parties. Common techniques include TLS for online communications and VPNs for secure network connections.
• Data at rest: Encryption protects stored data, whether in databases, cloud storage, or devices, preventing unauthorised access if physical devices or systems are compromised.

While encryption offers robust protection, it can come with challenges, such as:

• Performance impact: Encrypting and decrypting data requires processing power, which may slow down some systems.
• Complexity and costs: Implementing an effective encryption solution may require investment in specialised tools and expertise.
• Key management: Managing encryption keys securely is essential, as lost or compromised keys can prevent data access or lead to breaches.

A reliable encryption service will offer key management solutions to securely store, rotate, and back up encryption keys. This includes:

• Hardware security modules (HSMs): Physical devices for generating and managing secure keys.
• Key rotation policies: Regularly updating keys to improve security.
• Access controls: Restricting key access to authorised personnel only.

Effective key management is critical to maintaining the security of encrypted data.

When selecting an encryption service provider, consider:

• Compliance support: Ensure they understand GDPR requirements and use recognised encryption standards.
• Customisation: Look for solutions that can be tailored to your organisation’s specific data protection needs.
• Reputation and reliability: Choose providers with a track record of securely handling and protecting data.
• Support and maintenance: Ensure they offer technical support and regular updates to encryption protocols.

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) provides a higher level of security, particularly for data in transit, as it ensures data is only decrypted by the intended recipient. While not explicitly required by GDPR, E2EE is recommended for highly sensitive data to prevent access by unauthorised parties at any stage of transmission.

Encryption services can support compliance with data subject rights by:

• Securing access to personal data: Ensuring only authorised individuals can view or access personal data.
• Enabling secure data deletion: Helping organisations delete encrypted data when requested by data subjects.
• Protecting data portability: Encrypting personal data to ensure it remains secure during transfer if a data subject requests data portability.

• Encryption: Converts data into unreadable text that requires a key to decrypt.
• Pseudonymisation: Replaces identifying information with pseudonyms, allowing data to be used without directly identifying individuals but can be reversed with additional information.

Both methods reduce risk but are different approaches. Encryption is more secure as it renders data unreadable without the key, while pseudonymisation maintains usability but requires additional security measures.

No, encryption alone does not guarantee GDPR compliance. It is one aspect of a comprehensive data protection strategy, which should also include data minimisation, access controls, staff training, and regular audits. Encryption strengthens data security but should be combined with other measures to ensure full compliance.