Introduction to Cryptography - Symmetric Encryption

Tags: blockchain
Published: 2021-06-25 14:22:50

In the corporate industry, companies rely on IT-based tools to execute various tasks, ranging from financial transactions to the processing of customer data. Nowadays, innovation is a rule for companies amid an ever-growing competitive environment. 

Ultimately, automated tools allow companies to have a more dynamic production cycle, especially in terms of flexibility and effectiveness. In this context, one of the most reliable ways to develop new solutions is to rely on cryptography-based tools. 
With the popularity of cryptocurrency, the term "cryptography" became more prominent, meaning it is crucial to dig deeper to understand the matter in detail.

In this article, you will find out an overview of symmetric encryption and how companies can use it for their further development. Before you <a href="https://paybis.com/">purchase bitcoin </a>, we invite you to discover the tech behind it.

Introducing Symmetric Encryption - How Does It Work? 
The encryption of a message (the process in which a piece of data is encrypted) is based on 2 components - an algorithm and a security key. The algorithm works together with the key, so they can transform average data into sensitive data within a single set of proceedings. Almost <a href="https://paybis.com/price/"> all cryptocurrencies </a> use some sort of encryption tech.

Symmetric encryption relies on a single key, which is shared between the sender and recipient of the content. Accordingly, this key is a string of bits by itself, which defines how the algorithm will encrypt the content.
As an advantage, encryption has a good performance and the possibility to maintain continuous communication between several people simultaneously. In case the key is compromised, it is possible to change it for a new one while keeping the initial algorithm intact.

The security of an encryption system will vary depending on the size of the key used. An algorithm based on standard data encryption (DES or data encryption standard, in free translation) is 56 bits, which allows the creation of 72 quadrillion different keys. 

It may seem like a lot, but this pattern is already considered insecure given the processing capacity of current devices.
On the other hand, systems like RC2, which use the S/MIME protocol, have a variable-length key. It can be between 8 and 1024 bits. Thus, the chances of someone being able to decrypt encrypted content using brute force algorithms decreases considerably.

Despite its high performance, symmetric encryption has serious security flaws. Key management, for example, becomes more complex as the number of people communicating within a network increase. Hence, for every X number of users, X2 keys are required.
Symmetric encryption also does not have a purpose to verify the identity of the sender or recipient of the content. Furthermore, there is no way to guarantee the storage of security keys in trusted environments.

The Other Side - A Bit About Asymmetric Encryption 
Asymmetric cryptography, also known as public-key cryptography, is based on two types of security keys — one private and one public. Accordingly, both are used to encrypt messages and verify user identity.

Hence, when someone needs to send content to someone else through asymmetric encryption, he/she only needs the recipient's public key, which then uses the private key to decrypt the message.
In short, a private key serves to decrypt messages, while the public key is used to encrypt data. Surprisingly, this seamless system guarantees user privacy while increasing the reliability of the data exchanging process. 

Next-Level Data Security - How Are Cryptography and Digital Certificates Associated? 
Encryption algorithms can work together with digital certificates to enhance data analysis and make information exchange processes more secure.

Accordingly, the process of encrypting messages, verifying identities, and optimizing digital signatures becomes more agile and efficient. Together, crypto-based tools and digital certificates can make businesses more reliable and immune to security breaches. 

Digital certificates are used to guarantee the identity of people in digital environments, as they permit the identification of attempts to change public keys by unauthorized third parties.
Every digital certificate is signed by a certification authority (CA). The CA acts as a "digital notary", as it associates a set of attributes — such as name, personal public key, and address — with every public cryptographic key. 
The use of digital certificates is an extremely effective strategy to enhance data security in corporate systems. In this sense, ensuring reliability in digital communications is a must for any business, especially in competitive industries that depend on sensitive data (e.g., fintech).

Final Thoughts 
Symmetric encryption is a type of encryption where there is only one key (secret key), which is used in both parts of the process- encryption and decryption.
Hence, it is possible to convert data (e.g., a message) into a format that cannot be understood by anyone who does not have the same key to decrypt it. 

This way, once someone who has the same key receives the message, the algorithm reverses the action through decryption and the message returns to its original "understandable" form.