Data is encrypted when someone has transformed it in such a way that only those authorized to read the data can decode it. Data encryption is used to secure sensitive information from being seen by unauthorized people. One common way encryption is accomplished, and by organizations and individuals alike, is through private key cryptography which relies on a paired set of keys where one of the keys (usually kept secret) must be entered into an algorithm used to encrypt or decrypt the messages sent between two parties. As long as the paired set of keys remains secret, only those with access to both sets of keys will be able to properly decode what was meant for communication.