Database encryption

Database encryption is the process of converting data, within a database, in plain text format into a meaningless cipher text by means of a suitable algorithm. The database encryption protects the stored data.

There are multiple techniques and technologies available for database encryption. There are multiple styles of database presentation as well, and some of the OEMs provide transparent data encryption. With TDE, some level of encryption can be achieved, but the protocol can cause degradation of performance in a database if it is not configured accurately.

Database encryption is done to encrypt sensitive data like credit card numbers, medical records, etc. on the tables, columns, or rows of a database. Database encryption requirements are sometimes governed by regulation or business or data privacy laws specific to different countries.

Using database encryption can limit a database administrator in copying or seeing business-critical information.