What encryption practices are best for archive data?

Encryption best practices for archived records

Encryption protects archived data from unauthorized access and is a mandatory control for many compliance regimes. The choice of encryption method and key management is crucial for long-term access.

Recommended practices:

• Encrypt data at rest and in transit using modern algorithms (e.g., AES-256).
• Use strong key management: hardware security modules (HSMs) or cloud key management services.
• Consider customer-managed keys (CMKs) if you need direct control over access.
• Maintain key rotation policies and ensure keys are retained or escrowed to avoid losing access.

Document encryption choices and ensure that long-term access is preserved by planning for key lifecycle events and migration scenarios. Encryption combined with access controls and audit logs provides layered protection for archived assets.