Understanding unreadable data in cybersecurity

Making data unreadable, especially to unauthorized users, is required to protect sensitive information from breaches and misuse. This term refers to data that has been transformed into a format that cannot be easily understood or accessed by unauthorized users.

What is unreadable data?

Unreadable data refers to data that has been transferred into an indecipherable format to prevent unauthorized access. This transformation ensures that, even if the data is intercepted or accessed without permission, it cannot be understood or misused without the proper decryption key or method.

Transformation is usually accomplished through techniques such as encryption, tokenization, data masking, and hashing.

• Encryption: The core of making data unreadable is encryption— a process that uses algorithms to convert plain text into an unreadable format called ciphertext. Only users with the appropriate decryption key can convert the data back to its original form.
• Tokenization: This involves substituting sensitive data with non-sensitive equivalents, known as tokens. The tokens have no exploitable value and can only be mapped back to the original data through a secure tokenization system.
• Data masking: This technique involves hiding specific data elements with random characters or data, making it unreadable without affecting the data's usability for certain operations.
• Hashing: Hashing transforms data into a fixed-length string of characters, which is a hash value. It's a one-way function, meaning the original data cannot be retrieved from the hash.

Related: 

• What is encryption?
• What is data masking?
• Differences between encryption and hashing

The importance of unreadable data in cybersecurity

• Data privacy: Making data unreadable is required to protect individual privacy. Whether dealing with financial information, medical records, or personal identifiers, unreadable data ensures that sensitive details are shielded from unauthorized eyes.
• Regulatory compliance: Many regulations, such as GDPR and HIPAA, require organizations to implement measures that make sensitive data unreadable to unauthorized individuals. Compliance with these regulations helps avoid hefty fines and enhances consumer trust.
• Data breach mitigation: In the unfortunate event of a data breach, unreadable data acts as a line of defense. If attackers manage to access encrypted data, the information remains useless without the decryption key.
• Trust and reputation: By safeguarding data, organizations build trust with customers and stakeholders. Protecting sensitive information from breaches and leaks helps maintain a company's reputation.

Ways to make data unreadable

• Use strong encryption protocols: Use encryption algorithms and keep encryption keys secure and separate from encrypted data.
• Implement tokenization strategies: Especially for payment information and personal identifiers, tokenization can effectively limit the exposure of sensitive data.
• Regular audits and updates: Conduct frequent security audits and keep encryption algorithms and data masking protocols up-to-date to defend against new threats.
• Educate employees: Ensure staff members understand the importance of data protection practices and how to implement them properly.

Related: 

• The guide to HIPAA audits
• What are the OCR privacy audits for 2024-2025?

FAQs

What is an unauthorized user?

An unauthorized user is an individual or entity that does not have permission to access certain data or systems.

What are the potential risks if data is not made unreadable?

If data is not made unreadable, it is vulnerable to unauthorized access, leading to data breaches, identity theft, financial loss, and damage to an organization's reputation. It also increases the risk of non-compliance with data protection regulations.