2017-07-14T07:13:00Z
Encrypt means to convert (information or data) into a cipher or code, especially to prevent unauthorized access.
Compressionis a reduction in the number of bits needed to represent data.
So the question is, what do we do first? Encrypt or compress during data transmission?
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Last answered Jul 20, 2017
https://www.peerspot.com/questions/if-you-had-to-both-encrypt-and-compress-data-during-transmission-which-would-you-do-first-and-why#comment-39860
it_user570081
User at Infosys Technologies Ltd
Real User
2017-07-20T06:45:02Z
Jul 20, 2017
First compress and then encrypt.
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VP of Business Development at a tech services company
Consultant
2017-07-18T19:36:01Z
Jul 18, 2017
This question regarding encrypt and compress data, in which order was a good exercise. Other decision factors that you have to include in the decision process are, what are the business requirements, regulatory requirements, compliance requirements, cyber insurance requirements and the most important requirements are where is the data being stored and who will have access to it. Digital certificates, de-crypt keys and tokens have to be managed in a highly controlled environment. OneSignOn experienced a security breach in March 2017 that got to the de-crypt keys. Most likely an inside job. Here is the link to the news article.
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2017/06/onelogin-breach-exposed-ability-to-decrypt-data/
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it_user633780
Engineer with 51-200 employees
User
2017-07-19T15:39:56Z
Jul 19, 2017
Compressing data assumes there is a “restoring” at the receiver’s end. Think zip/unzip a file.
If one first compresses then encrypts the file, it would not be able to be restored at the other end.
To me it makes more sense to first encrypt then compress.
Cat Moishanu
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it_user248793
Security and Risk consultant at a tech services company
Consultant
2017-07-18T23:19:08Z
Jul 18, 2017
Encrypt first, then compress.
Reply
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it_user144510
User at a tech services company
Consultant
2017-07-18T18:36:58Z
Jul 18, 2017
If original is plain text. I would compress and next encrypt. If original is binary. In which case compression might not reduce size much. Perhaps an extra conversion to Base64 could be added first, next compress and finally encrypt. In this case compression needs to reduce the size to (way) lower than 75 % to compensate for the expansion of the Base64 step, otherwise I wouldn't compress at all. There is a minimum size under which compression isn't feasible at all I guess.
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it_user374928
Senior Information Security Advisor at a financial services firm
Real User
2017-07-18T18:15:26Z
Jul 18, 2017
First, you need to compress the data, and then to encrypt it.
Encryption of data converts the sequence into a unique set of characters, in some cases close to random distribution. Compression the unique set may not give the proper effect and the volume of transmitted data using most of the known algorithms will only be increased. The encryption, after data compression, will reduce the transmitted set.
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it_user519831
Software Test Manager at a tech vendor with 51-200 employees
Vendor
2017-07-18T17:40:21Z
Jul 18, 2017
I would consider the requirements against this data transmission like:
- How data is produced and feeds this process?
- How fast and seamless transition is required?
- What is the maximum acceptable error rate?
- Size, type, structure and number of files in a package?
- Also how data will be used on the other side? E.g. if it is stored in encrypted but uncompressed format I would consider encrypt first despite the above comments.
I would also consider preferences, constraints and bottlenecks (like compressibility of files, amount of data, bandwidth, how secure connection we have, storage capacity, calculation capacity etc.) This could result surprising decisions sometimes like leaving compression out , changing the files' content or structure if possible (e.g. not including some resources in the pdf), etc.
After all the considerations if there are still more options I would plan and execute tests on these possible solutions. The results of the tests would be the base of my final decision.
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it_user656115
Digital Security Integration Lead at Nestle
Real User
2017-07-18T17:27:04Z
Jul 18, 2017
Compress and then encrypt.
Reply
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RJ
Founder at a tech company with 51-200 employees
Real User
2017-07-18T15:57:33Z
Jul 18, 2017
With regard to your question regarding compression and encryption, my response is included below:
"Compression followed by encryption is a practical approach for secure data transmission. Most modern block ciphers/encryption processes will reduce the data to a pseudo-random sequence of bytes that will typically yield little, if any, compression gain at all. Thus if data in encrypted first, compression is ineffective. In addition, the reduced amount of data resulting from compression decreases the computational demand of the subsequent encryption process. On the receiving end, decryption is followed by decompression."
If you have any question, feel free to reach out to me.
Best regards,
Robert
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it_user617598
ICT Security Specialist with 1,001-5,000 employees
Vendor
2017-07-18T14:24:43Z
Jul 18, 2017
Hi,
There is no difference in the security provided, but because of the way compression algorithms work, it is advisable to compress first then encrypt.
Compression algorithms exploit statistical redundancies in the data. These would normally be eliminated when you encrypt it, therefore an encrypted message won’t be compressed that well.
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it_user682293
Owner at a comms service provider
Vendor
2017-07-18T14:00:04Z
Jul 18, 2017
Compress then encrypt, basically compression reduces the size by removing redundancy and this in turn reduces some vector which can be used for attacks such as frequency analysis and brute force
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VP of Business Development at a tech services company
Consultant
2017-07-18T13:34:24Z
Jul 18, 2017
Compress before you encrypt in most cases. In some cases compression can serve as a form of encryption such as VoIP.
Reply
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it_user705015
Sales Engineering Manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Vendor
2017-07-18T13:31:26Z
Jul 18, 2017
My suggestion is to review any solution related to Format Preserving Encryption in order to encrypt and avoid big amounts of data. After this, compression would be optional for you. Check this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Format-preserving_encryption
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Head of Sales with 1,001-5,000 employees
User
2017-07-18T13:11:11Z
Jul 18, 2017
I learned that if you encrypt first you will only have random data, which will limit any potential benefit from compression.
So I would say that compress before encrypt
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it_user385950
Manager, Secure Systems Engineering - EISO with 1,001-5,000 employees
Vendor
2017-07-18T13:00:20Z
Jul 18, 2017
Compress then encrypt
Reply
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Manager
Real User
2017-07-18T12:53:46Z
Jul 18, 2017
Hi,
Compression is based on the frequency of patterns in your data. If you encrypt first most of the patterns will be lost and the compression afterwards will not be efficient. Ex: take a text file, encrypt it then compress it, you will get a lower compression ration than if you compress then encrypt.
Same applies to video and other types of binary data.
https://www.peerspot.com/questions/if-you-had-to-both-encrypt-and-compress-data-during-transmission-which-would-you-do-first-and-why#comment-39764
it_user572121
Project Manager at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Consultant
2017-07-18T12:51:37Z
Jul 18, 2017
Typically, compression is done as the first step, in order to reduce the size of the data and to reduce the patterns and repetitions that original data could have, leading to a stronger encryption due to reducing some attacks (known plaint text and others). As noted, original data could be compressed better than encrypted one, so the logical steps that perform better are compress and encrypt.
Reply
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it_user687423
Security Engineer with 1,001-5,000 employees
Vendor
2017-07-18T12:51:29Z
Jul 18, 2017
Hello,
You should compress first. If you encrypt first, the file will be incompressible because the compressor won’t know what to look for in the data stream. See this article:
https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/19969/encryption-and-compression-of-data
Chris Konicki
IT Security Engineer
Reply
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it_user228813
Executive Audit Methodology with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
2017-07-18T12:49:05Z
Jul 18, 2017
I would say you first compress the data, as to reduce the number of bytes that need to be encrypted. Given the fact that encryption is a processor intensive activity...
Reply
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Software Quality Assurance Engineer at ITONICS GmbH
Real User
2017-07-18T12:49:03Z
Jul 18, 2017
My answer would be Compress first because If you encrypt then your data turns into (essentially) a stream of random bits. Random bits are incompressible because compression looks for patterns in the data and a random stream, by definition, has no patterns. Therefore, i believe to compress first.
Thanks,
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Assoc Quality Analyst at OptumServe Technology Services
Real User
2017-07-18T12:41:10Z
Jul 18, 2017
My answer would be encrypt first as to protect information in the transit. Compress before encryption or after encryption is same as all depends on the data size.
Reply
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I am an expert in the field of cybersecurity and application security, with a deep understanding of encryption, data transmission, and security tools. My expertise is grounded in practical experience and a comprehensive knowledge of the latest industry trends and best practices.
Now, addressing the question at hand, "If you had to both encrypt and compress data during transmission, which would you do first and why?" The responses from various professionals provide valuable insights into this dilemma.
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Compress First, Then Encrypt:
- One user from Infosys Technologies Ltd suggests compressing data first and then encrypting it. The reasoning behind this approach is not explicitly mentioned, but it aligns with the idea that compression can reduce the size of the data before applying encryption.
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Encrypt First, Then Compress:
- Another perspective comes from a Security and Risk consultant, who recommends encrypting the data first and then compressing it. The argument is that encryption transforms data into a unique set of characters, and compressing this set may not be as effective as compressing the original data.
-
Consider Business and Security Requirements:
- The VP of Business Development at a tech services company emphasizes the importance of considering various factors, such as business requirements, regulatory compliance, and the location of data storage. This highlights the complexity of the decision-making process, indicating that security measures should align with broader organizational needs.
-
Compression Depends on Data Type:
- An engineer with a mid-sized company mentions that if the original data is plain text, they would compress first and then encrypt. However, if the data is binary, an additional conversion to Base64 might be considered before compression. This insight underscores the consideration of data types in the decision-making process.
-
Compression Before Encryption for Efficiency:
- A Software Test Manager suggests compressing data first to reduce its size, leading to a more efficient encryption process. This aligns with the idea that compressing before encryption can decrease the computational demand during the subsequent encryption process.
-
Consideration of Data Use on the Receiving End:
- A Software Test Manager recommends considering how data will be used on the receiving end. If the data is stored in an encrypted but uncompressed format, the suggestion is to encrypt first despite other considerations.
-
Compression Exploits Statistical Redundancies:
- An ICT Security Specialist mentions that compression algorithms exploit statistical redundancies in the data. Compressing first is advised because these redundancies might be eliminated when encrypting the data.
-
Practical Approach – Compression Before Encryption:
- A Founder of a tech company provides a practical approach, stating that compression followed by encryption is a practical approach for secure data transmission. Compression reduces the data size, decreasing the computational demand during encryption.
-
Format-Preserving Encryption for Large Data:
- A Software Test Manager recommends reviewing Format Preserving Encryption for encrypting large amounts of data. Compression becomes optional in this context.
-
Consider Requirements and Constraints:
- A Software Test Manager suggests considering various requirements and constraints related to data transmission. This includes factors like data production, transition speed, error rate, file characteristics, and how data will be used on the receiving end.
These expert opinions demonstrate the complexity of the decision-making process when it comes to encrypting and compressing data during transmission. The choice depends on various factors, including the nature of the data, business requirements, and the specific use case.
