How Encryption Works: Data at Rest vs In Transit vs In Use

Data security is fundamentally about protecting data across three states: at rest, in transit, and in use, each with distinct encryption needs. Data at rest, stored in databases or file systems, is protected by AES-256 encryption, ensuring its unreadability without the correct key. Data in transit, which moves across networks, is secured by TLS 1.3, establishing an encrypted channel between endpoints but leaving data unprotected once it reaches its destination. The least protected state, data in use, involves active processing and requires advanced methods like Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), or Secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC) to ensure data remains encrypted even during processing. Effective data security involves not only cryptographic solutions but also robust governance frameworks that manage who can compute what, on which data, and for what purposes, emphasizing operational oversight to close gaps between encrypted states. Duality Technologies integrates these elements, providing a comprehensive approach to securing data in use, which is crucial for future AI applications that require safe handling of sensitive data.

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