Page 35 - Cyber Defense eMagazine August 2023

Securing the Cloud

Organizational Data Security Strategy - Bring Your Own Key (Byok)

By Chris Allen, Senior Solutions Architect, Cryptomathic.

Cloud computing is now the norm. Up to 94% of enterprises reportedly use cloud services, which has
forced organizations to rethink their approach toward security. Instead of focusing on securing the
perimeter of a local database, a cloud-first approach necessitates safeguarding the data itself.

Encryption solutions can protect data at rest or in motion, but cloud computing raises security concerns
relating to encryption keys. Companies frequently struggle with ownership and visibility of encryption
keys, which are typically controlled by the cloud service provider. As a result, customers are
understandably concerned about the security of their data, as someone else could potentially access
their encryption keys.

The Bring-Your-Own-Key (BYOK) approach has emerged as a solution to data encryption key
vulnerability. Let’s examine the workings of BYOK and explore the business benefits and challenges
associated with the technology.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – August 2023 Edition 35
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