Encrypting Files to Comply with Regulations

Regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, the UK Data Protection Act, HIPAA, and sector-specific compliance standards require organisations to protect personal and sensitive data throughout its lifecycle. Encryption is one of the most effective measures for ensuring confidentiality, as it renders data unreadable without authorised access. Regulators often view encryption as a mitigating factor during breach investigations, reducing the likelihood of penalties when data has been properly protected.

However, many organisations still rely on incomplete or inconsistent encryption practices. Data stored on endpoints, removable devices, shared drives, or cloud locations may be left unencrypted, creating significant compliance gaps. Files containing personal data, financial details, health information, or other regulated content must be consistently protected from unauthorised access, regardless of where they reside. Without strong safeguards, organisations face legal consequences, reputational damage, and financial penalties in the event of a breach. A structured encryption strategy helps organisations demonstrate due diligence, satisfy auditors, and reduce regulatory exposure. Ensuring file-level protection also strengthens customer trust and supports responsible data handling practices.

• UK breach costs average £3.29 million, rising to £3.85 million for phishing incidents.
• Regulators frequently cite lack of encryption as a key failing.
• Many GDPR reportable incidents involve unencrypted files.

Regulatory Compliance Achieved with Galaxkey

Galaxkey supports regulatory compliance by applying strong, consistent encryption to files containing personal or sensitive information. Its identity-based encryption model ensures only authorised users with valid credentials can open protected content. Files remain encrypted whether stored on endpoints, cloud platforms, email servers, or external drives.

Organisations maintain full control of encryption keys, satisfying requirements for data sovereignty and eliminating third-party access risks. Galaxkey enables automated policy-based encryption, ensuring files meeting certain criteria, such as containing personal data are encrypted by default. Audit logs track file access and actions, providing concrete evidence during compliance audits or regulatory investigations. Digital Rights Management (DRM) can be added to enforce additional usage controls, including blocking forwarding, printing, and copying.

The Secure Workspace provides a compliant environment for storing and handling regulated data, with full traceability of every access event. Even when sharing data externally, Galaxkey ensures recipients undergo identity verification and only receive controlled access. By embedding encryption across all workflows, Galaxkey helps organisations demonstrate compliance, reduce legal exposure, and adopt a proactive approach to data governance.