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1. Introduction to Encryption in Our System

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1.1 Objective

In our commitment to data security and privacy, we employ robust encryption methods to protect all user event data transmitted to our servers. This section of the documentation explains the encryption technologies we use, their significance, and how they integrate into our system.

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1.2 Target Audience

This document is designed for both developers who implement and maintain our system and project managers who oversee and coordinate these processes. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of our encryption methods, ensuring clarity and transparency across all team levels.

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1.3 Overview of Technologies Used

Our system utilizes a combination of two advanced encryption technologies: RSA (Rivest–Shamir–Adleman) and AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). RSA is a public-key cryptographic algorithm used primarily for secure key exchange, while AES is a symmetric key encryption algorithm known for its speed and security in encrypting large data volumes. This hybrid approach leverages the strengths of both algorithms to provide maximum security.

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2. Detailed Explanation of Encryption Technologies

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2.1 RSA Encryption

Concept: RSA is a public-key encryption technology. It works on the principle of using two keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. The public key is shared openly, while the private key is kept secret. Security Strength: RSA’s security is based on the computational difficulty of factoring large integers. The longer the key length, the more secure the encryption. We use RSA not for encrypting user data directly but for securely exchanging the keys needed for data encryption. Key Generation: Our RSA keys are generated using a secure, standardized process, ensuring robustness. The key size is chosen to balance security needs and performance requirements, adhering to current cryptographic standards.

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2.2 AES Encryption

Role in Data Encryption: AES is used for the actual encryption of user event data. It’s a symmetric key algorithm, meaning the same key is used for both encryption and decryption. AES is renowned for its efficiency and speed, making it ideal for encrypting large volumes of data. Key Security: The strength of AES lies in the key length used. We employ a secure key generation mechanism to create a unique AES key for each event, enhancing the security of individual data transmissions. Efficiency and Reliability: AES is not only secure but also highly efficient, ensuring that data encryption and decryption processes are fast and reliable, which is crucial for real-time data processing and analytics. Key Generation and Management

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2.3 RSA Key Pairs

Generation Process: Our RSA key pairs are generated using a cryptographically secure process. This involves selecting large prime numbers and computing their product, which forms the basis of the RSA keys. The key generation is automated and adheres to the latest security standards. Private Key Security: The security of our system heavily relies on the confidentiality of the RSA private key. To ensure its security, the private key is stored in a highly secure, access-controlled environment. Storage in AWS DynamoDB: Each client’s RSA private key is securely stored within AWS DynamoDB. This choice offers robust security features, including encryption at rest and fine-grained access control. The private keys are never exposed to third parties, ensuring an additional layer of security and privacy.

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2.4 AES Keys

Dynamic Generation: For each event data encryption, a unique AES key is generated. This approach, known as ephemeral key encryption, significantly enhances security. If a key were to be compromised, only the data encrypted with that specific key would be at risk, limiting the scope of any potential breach. Key Lifecycle Management: Each AES key is used only once and then securely discarded. This practice aligns with the best standards in key management, minimizing the risk of key reuse vulnerabilities.

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3. Data Encryption and Transmission Process

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3.1 Encrypting Event Data

AES Encryption: Once an event is triggered, the data is immediately encrypted using the dynamically generated AES key. AES provides a strong encryption layer, effectively turning the data into an unreadable format for anyone without the key. Efficiency and Security: We have optimized the encryption process to ensure that it is both secure and efficient, minimizing the impact on system performance and user experience.

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3.2 Encrypting AES Key with RSA Public Key

Secure Key Wrapping: After encrypting the event data with AES, the AES key itself is then encrypted using the RSA public key. This process is known as key wrapping. It ensures that the AES key can be securely transmitted along with the encrypted data. Data Transmission: The encrypted event data and the wrapped AES key are sent together to our server. The use of RSA encryption for the AES key ensures that even if the transmission is intercepted, the AES key remains secure.

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3.3 Transmission Security

Secure Channels: All data transmissions occur over secure, encrypted channels, such as TLS/SSL, adding an additional layer of security to the data in transit. Integrity and Authenticity: To ensure the integrity and

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4. Data Decryption Process

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4.1 Server-Side Decryption

Decryption Using RSA Private Key: Upon receiving the encrypted data and the wrapped AES key, our server first uses the RSA private key to decrypt the AES key. This process is securely executed within our controlled server environment, ensuring that the RSA private key is never exposed. AES Decryption of Event Data: With the AES key now decrypted, it is used to decrypt the event data. This two-step decryption process ensures that the event data remains protected throughout its journey from the client to our servers.

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4.2 Ensuring Data Integrity

Verification Checks: Post decryption, integrity checks are performed on the event data to ensure that it has not been tampered with during transmission. This is crucial for maintaining the trustworthiness and reliability of the data. Performance and Scalability

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4.3 Impact on System Performance

Optimized Encryption/Decryption: While encryption can add processing overhead, our system is optimized to minimize performance impact. This ensures that data encryption and decryption occur swiftly, maintaining a seamless user experience. Load Testing and Optimization: Regular load testing is conducted to ensure our system can handle high volumes of data without significant performance degradation.

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4.4 Scalability Considerations

Handling Increased Load: Our system is designed to scale with increased data loads. This scalability is crucial as our client base grows and the volume of data requiring encryption increases. Adaptability to Future Enhancements: We continuously monitor advancements in encryption technology to ensure our system remains state-of-the-art. This includes potential updates to our RSA and AES implementations to accommodate growing security and performance needs.

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5. Security and Compliance with GDPR

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5.1 GDPR Compliance Overview

Introduction to GDPR: The General Data Protection Regulation is a comprehensive data protection law in the EU that sets stringent standards for data privacy and security. It applies to all companies processing and holding the personal data of individuals residing in the European Union, regardless of the company’s location.

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5.2 Encryption and Data Protection

Encryption as a Data Protection Measure: Our use of RSA and AES encryption is in line with GDPR’s requirement for implementing appropriate technical measures to ensure a high level of security for personal data. By encrypting data both in transit and at rest, we provide robust protection against unauthorized access and data breaches.

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5.3 Consent and Data Processing

Informed Consent: We ensure that clear consent is obtained from users for the collection and processing of their data, in accordance with GDPR’s guidelines. This consent process is transparent, easily accessible, and as straightforward as possible. Purpose Limitation: Data is collected and processed only for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes. We do not use the data for anything other than its intended purpose, as communicated to the users.

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5.4 User Rights and Data Management

Data Subject Rights: Our system supports the fulfillment of data subject rights under GDPR. This includes the right to access, right to rectification, right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’), and right to data portability. Data Minimization: We adhere to the principle of data minimization, ensuring that only the data necessary for the purposes of processing is collected and processed.

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5.5 Data Breach Notification and Response

Breach Notification Protocols: In compliance with GDPR, we have established procedures to detect, report, and investigate personal data breaches. In the event of a data breach, we are prepared to notify the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours of becoming aware of it, unless the breach is unlikely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals. User Notification: If the breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, we will communicate the breach to the affected data subjects without undue delay.

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5.6 Data Transfer and International Considerations

Cross-Border Data Transfers: When transferring data outside the EU, we ensure that the appropriate safeguards are in place to maintain the level of data protection required by GDPR. This may involve the use of standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission or ensuring the recipient is in a country deemed to have adequate data protection laws.

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5.7 Continuous Compliance and Adaptation

Regular Audits and Updates: Our compliance with GDPR is not a one-time effort but a continuous process. We conduct regular audits of our data processing activities and stay abreast of any changes in data protection laws to ensure ongoing compliance. Training and Awareness: We maintain a high level of GDPR awareness among our staff through regular training and updates on data protection practices and principles.