Which is better, encryption vs tokenization? Tokenization vs. encryption explains how these clear safety technologies vary from each other when it arrives at defending cloud data. This article discusses the pros and cons of both methods.
Encryption vs Tokenization: Which is Better?
In the cloud-centric era, data protection is a vital issue. Encryption is a fundamental measure to protect the data stored in the cloud.
Tokenization is another technique that can be to protect information. Also, a token is a piece of data or token that replaces sensitive data.
Both encryption and tokenization are to protect data. However, they are different in many aspects.
Encryption is a cryptographic algorithm that converts data into an unreadable format called ciphertext, while tokenization replaces sensitive data with a token. These two methods have their strengths and weaknesses and are for different purposes.
Encryption has been in use for centuries. Encryption is to protect information from unauthorized access.
Encryption transforms the original data into an unreadable format that can be only when a user has a decryption key. This process requires the user to enter the correct key before the encrypted data can be decrypted.
Tokenization is a process that takes place between the application and an external server. Also, the token can be to identify data and find the original data in a database. Tokenization is a process that involves multiple computers and servers.
Objectives
Encryption vs. tokenization can be to achieve different objectives.
Encryption is to ensure the security of the information transmitted over the network. It protects data from unauthorized access and modification.
Tokenization is to replace sensitive data with a token that can act as a placeholder for sensitive data. This way, the original data can be with tokens and stored in a database.
Methodology
Encryption is a cryptographic process that converts the original data into an unreadable format called ciphertext which can be only when a user has a decryption key. Also, tokenization is a process that takes place between the application and an external server.
Advantages
Both encryption and tokenization have their advantages. Encryption is to protect data from unauthorized access. It is the most secure method to protect data, as it is impossible to decrypt the data without a decryption key.
Encryption is to ensure data integrity and confidentiality. Also, encryption ensures data integrity/authenticity as it creates a digital signature that can be to authenticate the sender of information.
Tokenization replaces sensitive data with a token that can act as a placeholder for the original data. Also, tokenization is to replace sensitive information with a token that can be in place of the actual data.
Tokenization maintains data accuracy as it replaces tokens with original data. So, tokenization is mostly used in payment applications where sensitive financial information is with tokens.
Conclusion
Encryption vs. tokenization is two powerful methods to protect data from unauthorized access and modification. Both these methods have their strengths and weaknesses which determine how they can be used.
Encryption is a more secure method to protect the data from unauthorized access, but it is not effective in maintaining data accuracy. Tokenization is a better option to maintain data accuracy as it replaces tokens with original data, but it is less secure than encryption.
