What is application layer encryption

Application layer encryption (ALE) and application-level encryption refer to the same concept. It is a data security measure that encrypts data at the application layer before it is transmitted or stored. By encrypting specific fields or sensitive information within the application itself, this approach provides an additional layer of security and reduces the number of potential attack vectors.

ALE focuses on securing data within the application's memory space or before storing it in databases, files, or cloud environments. It can be implemented in various ways, such as client-side, end-to-end, or field-level encryption. 

Application layer encryption offers several advantages to organizations, as it:

• Ensures robust data security, superior to at-rest or in-transit encryption alternatives. It protects data until it reaches the destination app, preventing unauthorized access.
• Minimizes attack vectors by encrypting fields within the app. Even if attackers access infrastructure, data remains encrypted, enhancing information extraction difficulty.
• Prevents account misuse by restricting legitimate users' access to specific app-related data, ensuring limited exposure within an account.
• Secures sensitive data before storage, aiding regulatory compliance and safeguarding organizational reputation in databases, big data, or cloud environments.
• Offers flexibility with the implementation on the client side, end-to-end, or field level. Organizations can choose an approach that aligns with their security needs.

ALE and transport layer security (TLS) are both methods used to protect data between applications through encryption. However, there are differences in how and where it is performed.

ALE entails encrypting and decrypting data at the application level directly within the application's code. Developers control encryption details, algorithms, and key management, allowing for granular data protection, including specific fields within messages. This approach safeguards against risks like physical disk access and transit between application components.

In contrast, TLS is a cryptographic protocol operating at the transport layer of the network stack. Widely used for internet communication (web browsing, email, etc.), TLS employs symmetric and asymmetric encryption to ensure encryption, authentication, and integrity for data exchanged between applications. Using top reliable transport protocols like TCP, TLS requires functioning at a higher layer but secures communication over the network.

The 2 types of encryption applications are symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption:

Symmetric encryption utilizes a shared key for encryption and decryption, ensuring efficiency with large data volumes. However, secure key transmission between sender and recipient is crucial.

Asymmetric encryption, or public-key encryption, involves a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. The public key is shareable, enabling data encryption, while only the private key holder can decrypt. It offers secure information exchange without a shared key but is computationally more intensive than symmetric encryption.