Homomorphic Encryption: Performing Computations on Encrypted Data
Data exists in three primary states: Data-at-Rest (stored on drives), Data-in-Transit (moving across network wires), and Data-in-Use (active inside processor memory). While industry-standard protocols like AES and TLS successfully secure data while it is stored or transmitted, data has historically been vulnerable during processing. To run analytics, train machine learning models, or execute software logic, software programs must first decrypt information into raw plaintext inside system RAM. If an operating system is compromised, a cloud hypervisor is breached, or an insider threat runs a memory-dump attack, sensitive raw records are instantly exposed. Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solves this vulnerability. FHE…