Overview#
Protecting stored data with cryptographic controls. Uses key management, disk encryption, and database encryption to limit exposure after theft.
Core objectives#
- Establish shared definitions of Encryption at Rest for security, engineering, and leadership teams.
- Connect Encryption at Rest activities to measurable risk reduction and resilience goals.
- Provide onboarding notes so new team members can quickly understand how Encryption at Rest works here.
Implementation notes#
- Identify the primary owner for Encryption at Rest, the data sources involved, and the systems affected.
- Document the minimum viable process, tooling, and runbooks that keep Encryption at Rest healthy.
- Map Encryption at Rest practices to standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, NIST CSF, or CIS Controls.
Operational signals#
- Leading indicators: early warnings that Encryption at Rest might degrade (e.g., backlog growth, noisy alerts, or missed SLAs).
- Lagging indicators: realized impact that shows Encryption at Rest failed or needs investment (e.g., incidents, audit findings).
- Feedback loops: retrospectives and metrics reviews that tune Encryption at Rest continuously.
Related practices#
- Align Encryption at Rest with defense-in-depth planning, threat modeling, and disaster recovery tests.
- Communicate updates to stakeholders through concise briefs, dashboards, and internal FAQs.
- Pair Encryption at Rest improvements with tabletop exercises to validate expectations.