Encryption is a method of converting plaintext data into a coded or ciphertext format that is unreadable without the proper decryption key. It can be used to protect against a variety of cyber attacks by making it more difficult for attackers to intercept and steal sensitive information.

There are different types of encryption and encryption algorithms, but the most common are symmetric and asymmetric encryption.

• Symmetric encryption: uses a single secret key to both encrypt and decrypt the data. It is relatively fast, but both the sender and the recipient must have the secret key.
• Asymmetric encryption: uses a pair of keys, one for encryption and one for decryption. The encryption key is made publicly available, but the decryption key is kept secret. This allows anyone to encrypt data for a specific recipient, but only the recipient can decrypt and read the data.

Encryption can be applied to various types of data such as files, emails, messages, and even entire disk drives. To protect data in transit, encryption protocols such as HTTPS and SSL/TLS are commonly used for online communications and transactions.

By encrypting data at rest (when it is stored) and in transit (when it is transmitted), organizations can protect against a wide range of cyber threats, including data breaches, eavesdropping, and tampering. Encryption can be a powerful tool to protect sensitive information, but it is important to remember that encryption itself is not enough to provide total security, as there are potential attacks on encryption, like cracking encryption keys and finding weaknesses in encryption algorithms. Therefore, encryption should be used in combination with other security controls and best practices to build a strong defense against cyber attacks.