Database Encryption

Database encryption can generally be defined as a process that uses an algorithm to transform data stored in a database into "cipher text" that is incomprehensible without first being decrypted.[1] It can therefore be said that the purpose of database encryption is to protect the data stored in a database from being accessed by individuals with potentially "malicious" intentions.[2] The act of encrypting a database also reduces the incentive for individuals to hack the aforementioned database as "meaningless" encrypted data is of little to no use for hackers.[3] There are multiple techniques and technologies available for database encryption, the most important of which will be detailed in this article.