Cisco CyberOps Associate (CBROPS) 200-201Security ConceptsHard
A financial institution is upgrading its data protection measures to comply with stringent new privacy regulations. The regulations require that sensitive customer data, even when processed in the cloud by a third-party vendor, must remain encrypted throughout its entire lifecycle, including during computation. Which advanced cryptographic technique can achieve this 'encryption in use' capability?
- ASymmetric Encryption
- BAsymmetric Encryption
- CHomomorphic Encryption
- DHashing
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Homomorphic Encryption
Homomorphic encryption is an advanced cryptographic technique that allows computations to be performed on encrypted data without decrypting it first. This enables 'encryption in use,' meaning data remains encrypted even while being processed, which is ideal for cloud environments where third parties handle sensitive data.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Symmetric encryption encrypts and decrypts data but requires decryption for computation.
- B. Asymmetric encryption is used for key exchange and digital signatures; data needs decryption for computation.
- D. Hashing creates a one-way digest of data for integrity checks, not for encryption or computation on encrypted data.
Homomorphic Encryption
An advanced form of encryption that allows computation to be performed on ciphertext, generating an encrypted result which, when decrypted, matches the result of operations performed on the plaintext. This enables data to remain encrypted even while being processed or analyzed.
- Enables computation on encrypted data.
- Data remains encrypted 'in use'.
- Crucial for privacy in cloud computing.
- Still computationally intensive.
Memory trick: Homomorphic encryption is like a magic box where you can work on things without opening it.