Data encryption is the process of converting data into a form that is unreadable by unauthorized users. This is done by using a mathematical algorithm to scramble the data. The scrambled data is known as ciphertext. To decrypt the data, the user must have the encryption key. The encryption key is a secret piece of information that is used to unscramble the ciphertext. Data encryption is the most effective way to protect sensitive information. It is also the only option that allows for full functionality and searchability of data within the cloud-based services.