Cryptographic Protocols: Ensuring Data Privacy and Integrity

Messages and data must be protected from the rising number of cyber attacks. Cryptographic protocols are used to establish secure connections between two parties to communicate with privacy and data integrity. The main goals of these protocols are to provide confidentiality, data integrity, identification, and authentication. Information technology professionals work behind the scenes to protect us from cybercriminals.

What Is A Cryptographic Protocol?

Encryption is accomplished by using algorithms that do all the cryptographic operations by using the encryption key on the plaintext data. The algorithms are used within encryption protocols to protect data for different usages.

The point of cryptographic protocols is to fulfill specific functions that vary from remote connections to computers to communications. Two terms that any information technology professional must understand are asymmetric and symmetric encryption. Asymmetric is the more secure of the two types of encryption. With it, a key pair is created which consists of a public and private key. The public key is kept available for anyone to see, while the private key is known only by the key pair creator. Symmetric is the simpler form of encryption that uses one key to encrypt data whether the data is in transit or at rest.

The TLS/SSL Cryptographic Protocol

TLS/SSL is the most commonly used encryption protocol every day on the Internet. Transport Layer Security/Security Sockets Layer (TLS/SSL) ensures communications between a client and server are kept secure. Several different encryption algorithms are used with this protocol and can be used for:

  • User authentication and traffic encryption
  • Showing that data has not been modified in-transit
  • Securing the initial connection between client and server
  • Verifying the TLS/SSL certificates of server and client are verified
  • Final encrypting of messages between users
“Cryptographic protocols are used to establish secure connections between two parties to communicate with privacy and data integrity.”

S/MIME Is A Useful Cryptographic Protocol

Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) is a competitor to OpenPGP as an email-based encryption protocol. Like PGP, this protocol allows users to encrypt and sign email data to provide additional protection from attackers. The difference between the two is that S/MIME uses different algorithms to secure data. Here’s how it works:

  • Senders encrypt messages with a public key
  • Recipients decrypt messages using their corresponding private key
  • Sends digitally signed emails to verify their identities

S/MIME is a good choice for organizations with predictable data exchange workflows.

SSH As A Protocol

Secure Shell, known as SSH, is another encryption protocol similar to a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Users can create an encrypted tunnel to use SSH to perform these functions:

  • Securely connect to computers
  • Remotely connect to computers
  • Transfer files
  • Port forward

SSH uses a transport level which is the layer that securely connects two parties. It securely encrypts any data sent between them and authenticates the users to each other. It also ensures the data shared between the users is not changed in any way in transit.

PGP Allows Users To Digitally Sign Messages

OpenPGP, also known as PGP, allows users to encrypt messages and digitally sign them. This protocol gives the message sender a stronger method of both authentication and data integrity protection. Here are some enhancements PGP provides:

  • Protects sensitive email information
  • Provides a global format and interoperable system
  • PGP is free to use and integrates into many different email clients
  • Different algorithms are available for its use

If you want to improve the security of email messages, PGP is an easy and cost-effective way to do this.

Kerberos Protocol

Kerberos acts as a single sign-on cryptographic protocol to authenticate uses against a central authentication and key distribution server. Authenticated users are allowed to use the different services within the network because a server grants user access.

Kerberos’ is used mainly on Local Area Networks (LANs) and for establishing shared secrets. This protocol requires that both the client and server include code to use it, and some organizations do not use it for this reason.

IPsec Is Another Useful Protocol

Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) works with encryption algorithms to encrypt data in applications, routing, or Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Some things to know about it are:

  • By using tunneling and transport modes, it protects data moving from one location to another
  • Transport mode encrypts only the payload of the message, not the header
  • Tunneling mode encrypts and authenticates both the payload and header
  • Tunneling mode is mostly used with VPNs
  • IPsec is quick to set up a connection

In summary, cryptographic protocols establish secure connections between two parties. Choose the ones that work best for your organization. If you want to learn more about encryption protocols, earn an associate degree in Information Technology from ITI Technical College.

For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website: https://iticollege.edu/disclosures/