What is "data in transit" encryption?

Data in transit encryption refers specifically to the protection of data that is actively moving from one location to another over network connections. This type of encryption is crucial because, during transmission, data can be intercepted by unauthorized parties. By applying encryption protocols to data in transit, sensitive information, such as personal identification details, financial information, or confidential business data, is transformed into a coded format that is unreadable without the appropriate decryption key.

This process ensures that even if malicious actors capture the data while it is in transit, they would find it nearly impossible to access or interpret the information without the correct credentials.

The focus on protecting data during transmission distinguishes it from other types of encryption, such as encryption of stored data, which is designed to secure information at rest. Therefore, recognizing that data in transit encryption serves a specific and critical purpose in safeguarding information while it travels across networks is key to understanding its role in overall data security practices.