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FAQ 2021 What is encryption?

This is a FAQ regarding encryption.

Final

Issued by: Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

What is encryption?

Answer:

Encryption is a method of converting an original message of regular text into encoded text. The text is encrypted by means of an algorithm (type of formula). If information is encrypted, there would be a low probability that anyone other than the receiving party who has the key to the code or access to another confidential process would be able to decrypt (translate) the text and convert it into plain, comprehensible text. For more information about encryption , please see NIST Special Publication 800-111, Guide to Storage Encryption Technologies for End User Devices. - PDF

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