It's essential to keep your data secure, especially in the cloud. You never know who may be snooping around your information, and whether they have malicious intentions or not, your private data is not something you want to share with the world.
When it comes to data protection in the cloud, there are two primary methods used. We're talking about cloud encryption and cloud tokenization. Both methods are designed to keep your data safe, but which one of them is safer? In this post, we'll compare both methods and give you some numbers to help you make an informed choice.
Cloud Encryption
Encryption is the process of converting data into a code or cypher that can only be deciphered by someone with the right key. In cloud encryption, data is encrypted before it ever leaves your computer or device. That way, if someone intercepts your data while it's in transit or saves it on the cloud, they won't be able to read or use it without the encryption key.
Cloud encryption is often used to protect sensitive data such as financial information or personal identifiable information (PII). It's a solid method for data protection, but it does have its downsides.
Pros and Cons of Cloud Encryption
Pros
- Encrypted data can be accessed only by those with the key
- It's a well-established technology that has been around for a long time
- Encryption is the go-to method for protecting sensitive data
Cons
- Encryption can slow down data processing and transfer
- It can cause complexities when managing encrypted data
- Encrypting data can affect the usability of some systems and applications
Cloud Tokenization
Tokenization is the process of replacing sensitive data with a token that represents the original data. Unlike encryption, tokenization does not use mathematical algorithms to scramble the data. Instead, it replaces the actual data with a token that looks and feels like the original data.
With tokenization, the sensitive data is stored in a secure centralized location called a token vault. Whenever anyone needs to use the sensitive data, they have to get a token from the vault. That token can be used instead of the actual data. The tokenization process makes it virtually impossible for hackers to steal the actual sensitive data because all the data they can access is the token.
Pros and Cons of Cloud Tokenization
Pros
- Tokenization does not use algorithms to scramble the data, making it harder to crack
- It's easy to manage, and the data can be used without revealing the sensitive data
- Tokenization can be used to protect sensitive data even in unencrypted environments
Cons
- Tokenization is a relatively new technology, and not all systems support it
- A token vault must be maintained to keep the tokens secure
- Tokenization is not as widespread as encryption
Comparing Cloud Encryption Vs Cloud Tokenization
Cloud encryption and cloud tokenization are effective methods of protecting your data in the cloud. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between the two depends on your individual needs.
In terms of safety, both methods are relatively secure. However, tokenization has one significant advantage over encryption. With tokenization, hackers can never access the actual sensitive data because it's stored separately. Even if a hacker has access to your token, they won't be able to do much with it because it only represents the original data.
On the other hand, encryption has been around for a long time and is a well-established technology. It's used to protect sensitive data in many industries, including finance and healthcare.
Conclusion
Both cloud encryption and cloud tokenization are viable methods of protecting your data in the cloud. The choice between the two depends on your individual needs. If you need to protect sensitive data that must be used within specific applications or systems, encryption is a good choice. If you want to protect your data from hackers completely, then tokenization may be a better option.
Whatever data protection method you choose, always ensure that you are in compliance with the relevant regulations and guidelines to avoid any penalties.