Data Backup Information: Encrypted Backup

Encrypted backup refers to data backup systems which transfer data via the IP protocol suite using AES encryption. This form of encryption prevents data from being intercepted in transit or at rest, a critical consideration for organizations charged with protecting sensitive customer information and business records while transferring the data to offsite storage for recovery purposes or archival.

Encryption of backup data is becoming more and more popular as threats of information theft arise more often, particularly in the sectors of financial or healthcare services. Federal compliance regulations require organizations to maintain standards related to accessibility and recoverability of data, as well as liability for lost or stolen electronic information.

Some backup providers such as CRC DataProtection integrate encryption of transferred data as a standard feature of their backup service. CRC DataProtection uses 256-bit AES encryption, the same encryption standard adopted by the U.S. government.