TDE (Transparent Data Encryption) plays a critical role in preventing data breaches by encrypting data at rest, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected even if physical storage media or files are stolen. Unlike application-level encryption, TDE operates transparently, requiring no changes to existing applications, as it encrypts data before writing it to disk and decrypts it when read.
For example, in a database system, TDE can encrypt entire database files, transaction logs, and backups. Even if an attacker gains unauthorized access to the storage, the stolen data remains unreadable without the encryption key. This mitigates risks such as insider threats, lost or stolen devices, or unauthorized access to backup files.
In cloud environments, Tencent Cloud provides TDE for databases like MySQL and SQL Server, ensuring data security at rest. Tencent Cloud’s Key Management Service (KMS) further enhances protection by allowing users to manage encryption keys securely, separating key access from data access to prevent unauthorized decryption.