Data Protection & Privacy

Encryption Architecture

  • May 9, 2025
  • 0

Sherlocked Security – Encryption Architecture (At-Rest & In-Transit)

Design and Implement Robust Encryption Strategies for Data Security and Privacy

1. Statement of Work (SOW)

Service Name: Encryption Architecture (At-Rest & In-Transit)
Client Type: Enterprises, Financial Institutions, Healthcare Providers, E-Commerce Companies, Government Agencies
Service Model: Project-Based Design & Implementation, Retainer Advisory
Compliance Alignment: GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, ISO/IEC 27001, NIST 800-53, CCPA

Encryption Architecture Service Covers:

  • Design and implementation of encryption strategies for data at-rest and in-transit
  • Review of existing encryption solutions and identification of gaps
  • Recommendation and deployment of encryption technologies, including key management systems (KMS)
  • Integration of encryption into applications, storage systems, and communication protocols
  • Compliance gap analysis for regulatory requirements
  • Ongoing advisory for encryption best practices and security posture improvement

2. Our Approach

[Assessment & Discovery] → [Encryption Design] → [Solution Integration] → [Testing & Validation] → [Compliance Assessment] → [Ongoing Monitoring & Reporting]

3. Methodology

  • Assessment & Discovery:

    • Identify data types, sensitivity levels, and where data is stored or transmitted (e.g., cloud, on-premises, in-transit).
    • Review existing security frameworks, policies, and encryption practices.
    • Conduct an audit of current encryption technologies in use (e.g., AES, TLS, VPNs) and key management systems.

  • Encryption Design:

    • Design an encryption strategy tailored to your data, network, and regulatory needs.
    • Select appropriate encryption algorithms (e.g., AES-256 for at-rest, TLS 1.2 or 1.3 for in-transit) based on security and performance considerations.
    • Design a key management system (KMS) architecture that ensures secure key storage, rotation, and access control.
    • Integrate encryption seamlessly into applications, databases, and cloud environments (e.g., encrypting sensitive database columns, securing APIs with TLS).

  • Solution Integration:

    • Implement encryption solutions into existing infrastructure, including storage devices, backup systems, cloud storage, and communications systems.
    • Ensure secure encryption for cloud data storage, backup encryption, and database encryption in both on-premises and hybrid environments.
    • Configure secure transmission channels using protocols like HTTPS, TLS, IPsec, and VPNs.

  • Testing & Validation:

    • Test encryption implementations for robustness, ensuring that data at-rest and in-transit is adequately protected.
    • Perform vulnerability assessments to identify potential weaknesses in the encryption setup.
    • Validate encryption performance to ensure minimal impact on operational efficiency.

  • Compliance Assessment:

    • Ensure that encryption solutions comply with relevant regulations (e.g., PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR).
    • Assess key management and encryption policies against compliance frameworks to identify gaps.
    • Develop a remediation plan for any compliance discrepancies.

  • Ongoing Monitoring & Reporting:

    • Set up monitoring tools to track encryption status across storage systems, applications, and networks.
    • Provide continuous monitoring of encryption health, including key rotation, encryption compliance, and audit logging.
    • Regular reporting and updates on encryption best practices and regulatory changes.

4. Deliverables to the Client

  1. Encryption Architecture Design Document: A comprehensive document outlining the recommended encryption strategy, including algorithm choices, key management design, and integration steps.
  2. Solution Implementation Report: A detailed report on the implementation process, outlining encryption technologies, protocols, and integrations applied.
  3. Compliance Gap Analysis: A report highlighting areas where current encryption practices fall short of regulatory compliance requirements, with recommendations for remediation.
  4. Testing & Validation Report: A comprehensive report on testing results, including encryption strength, vulnerabilities found, and performance metrics.
  5. Ongoing Encryption Monitoring Dashboard: A dashboard with real-time monitoring of encryption status across systems, highlighting issues like expired certificates or weak encryption ciphers.
  6. Key Management Plan: A detailed guide on key rotation, storage, access policies, and secure key lifecycle management.

5. What We Need from You (Client Requirements)

  • Data Classification Information: Detailed breakdown of data types, sensitivity levels, and locations of critical data (e.g., databases, cloud storage).
  • Current Encryption Implementations: Access to current encryption configurations, key management systems, and encryption policies.
  • Regulatory Compliance Requirements: Any specific compliance frameworks (e.g., PCI-DSS, GDPR) the organization must adhere to.
  • Security Policy Documents: Existing IT security policies, including encryption, data protection, and access control policies.
  • Technical Infrastructure: Information about the technical environment, including storage systems, network topology, and cloud services used.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Availability of IT and security team members for consultations and solution integration.

6. Tools & Technology Stack

  • Encryption Tools:
    • OpenSSL, HashiCorp Vault, AWS KMS, Azure Key Vault, Google Cloud KMS
  • Network Encryption Solutions:
    • TLS 1.2/1.3, IPsec, VPN Gateways, SSL/TLS Offloaders
  • Cloud Encryption Solutions:
    • AWS S3 Encryption, Azure Storage Encryption, Google Cloud Encryption
  • Key Management & Access Control:
    • Keycloak, Thales CipherTrust, AWS IAM, Azure Active Directory
  • Compliance Tools:
    • Qualys, Tenable Nessus, Vormetric, CloudPassage Halo
  • Audit & Monitoring Tools:
    • Splunk, ELK Stack (ElasticSearch, Logstash, Kibana), Datadog, CloudTrail (AWS)

7. Engagement Lifecycle

  1. Kickoff & Scoping: Initial briefing and documentation collection to understand the client’s encryption needs, existing systems, and regulatory requirements.
  2. Encryption Strategy Design: Develop a customized encryption architecture that addresses data-at-rest and data-in-transit needs.
  3. Solution Integration: Implement encryption across the client’s infrastructure, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems and workflows.
  4. Testing & Validation: Perform rigorous testing on encryption implementations, assessing encryption strength and performance.
  5. Compliance Mapping: Map the encryption architecture against compliance requirements and identify any gaps or areas of improvement.
  6. Ongoing Monitoring: Set up encryption monitoring and regular reviews to ensure continued security and compliance.

8. Why Sherlocked Security?

Feature Sherlocked Advantage
Comprehensive Encryption Design Tailored architecture for securing both data-at-rest and data-in-transit
Best-in-Class Tools & Protocols Leverage the latest encryption technologies and industry standards
Compliance-Focused Deep understanding of regulatory requirements like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR
Seamless Integration Encryption solutions that integrate smoothly into existing infrastructure
Performance Optimization Ensure strong encryption with minimal impact on system performance

9. Real-World Case Studies

Healthcare Provider – HIPAA Compliance

Client: A healthcare provider storing and transmitting sensitive patient data.
Findings: Inadequate encryption for data-at-rest and weak TLS configurations for in-transit data.
Outcome: Implemented AES-256 encryption for patient records stored in databases, and upgraded TLS for all web communications, achieving full HIPAA compliance and ensuring secure patient data transfer.

Financial Institution – PCI-DSS Encryption Requirements

Client: A financial institution dealing with credit card data.
Findings: Unencrypted backup data and insecure TLS protocols for online transactions.
Outcome: Deployed end-to-end encryption for transaction data using TLS 1.2 and introduced AES encryption for backup data, securing sensitive information in compliance with PCI-DSS.

10. SOP – Standard Operating Procedure

  1. Initial Assessment: Review the client’s current data protection practices and encryption requirements.
  2. Encryption Strategy Design: Design an encryption architecture that secures data-at-rest and data-in-transit, based on business needs and regulatory requirements.
  3. Solution Implementation: Implement encryption across storage systems, databases, and communications channels.
  4. Testing & Validation: Test encryption configurations and validate them against security standards and performance benchmarks.
  5. Compliance Alignment: Ensure that encryption solutions comply with relevant industry frameworks and regulations.
  6. Monitoring & Auditing: Set up tools to monitor encryption status and ensure ongoing compliance and performance.

11. Encryption Architecture Readiness Checklist

1. Pre-Assessment Preparation

  • [ ] Data classification and sensitivity assessment
  • [ ] Inventory of data storage systems and transmission channels
  • [ ] Existing encryption policies and procedures
  • [ ] Compliance requirements (e.g., PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR)

2. During Engagement

  • [ ] Design and implement encryption for both data-at-rest and data-in-transit
  • [ ] Integrate key management solutions and secure key storage
  • [ ] Test encryption performance and security

3. Post-Engagement Actions

  • [ ] Regular encryption performance reviews
  • [ ] Ongoing compliance audits and updates to encryption protocols
  • [ ] Monitor encryption health and key management status
Key Management & HSM Integration
Data Loss Prevention