Encryption and hashing are both cryptographic techniques used to protect sensitive information. However, they differ in their purpose and functionality. In this discussion, we will examine the difference between encryption and hashing and when an organization should use each technique, or both.
Encryption is the process of converting plain text into ciphertext, which can only be read by authorized parties who have the decryption key. Encryption is used to protect data while it is being transmitted or stored. There are two types of encryption: symmetric and asymmetric.
Symmetric encryption uses the same key for encryption and decryption, which means that the key must be kept secret to prevent unauthorized access. Asymmetric encryption, on the other hand, uses two keys – a public key and a private key – to encrypt and decrypt data. The public key can be shared freely, while the private key must be kept secure.
Hashing, on the other hand, is the process of converting plain text into a fixed-length string of characters called a hash. Hashing is a one-way process, which means that it cannot be reversed to obtain the original data. Hashing is used to verify the integrity of data, as any changes made to the original data will result in a different hash value.
When an organization should use encryption or hashing depends on the specific use case. Below are some examples of when each technique should be used:
Encryption:
- Transmitting sensitive data over a network: When sensitive data such as credit card information or login credentials are transmitted over a network, encryption should be used to protect the data from interception by unauthorized parties. For example, when a user enters their credit card information on an e-commerce website, the website should use encryption to protect the data while it is transmitted to the payment gateway.
- Storing sensitive data: When sensitive data such as health records or financial information is stored on a device or server, encryption should be used to protect the data from unauthorized access in case of a security breach. For example, a hospital should use encryption to protect patient health records stored in its database.
- Protecting confidential communications: When communicating confidential information such as trade secrets or classified information, encryption should be used to prevent interception by unauthorized parties. For example, government agencies use encryption to protect sensitive communications.
Hashing:
- Password storage: When storing user passwords, hashing should be used to protect the passwords from being exposed in case of a security breach. When a user creates an account on a website, the website should hash the user’s password and store the hash value instead of the plain text password.
- Data integrity verification: When verifying the integrity of data such as software downloads or email attachments, hashing should be used to ensure that the data has not been tampered with. For example, when downloading software from a website, the website should provide the hash value of the software so that the user can verify that the downloaded software has not been modified.
- Digital signatures: When verifying the authenticity of digital documents, hashing is used to create a unique hash value of the document, which is then encrypted with the sender’s private key to create a digital signature. The recipient can then use the sender’s public key to decrypt the digital signature and verify the authenticity of the document.
In some cases, both encryption and hashing may be used together. For example, when transmitting sensitive data over a network, encryption may be used to protect the data from interception, and hashing may be used to ensure that the data has not been modified during transmission.
In conclusion, encryption and hashing are both important cryptographic techniques used to protect sensitive information. While encryption is used to protect data while it is being transmitted or stored, hashing is used to verify the integrity of data. An organization should use encryption or hashing, or both, depending on the specific use case.