Certified: The Security+ Prepcast

Encryption is the most widely used method for ensuring data confidentiality, but its implementation must be tailored to the context in which data exists. In this episode, we break down the many forms of encryption, including full-disk, partition, file, volume, and record-level encryption, explaining when and why each is used. We explore symmetric encryption—fast and efficient for large data sets—and asymmetric encryption, which enables secure key exchange and digital signatures. We also examine the importance of key management, algorithm selection, and key length, noting how weak or outdated algorithms like DES can undermine otherwise strong systems. For data in transit, we cover protocols like TLS and IPSec that secure everything from web traffic to VPN tunnels. The episode also explains how encryption is enforced via hardware security modules (HSMs), Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs), and encryption at the application or database layer. Proper encryption implementation is not only a compliance requirement but also a strategic defense against unauthorized access, data breaches, and espionage.