When you encrypt data, the only way to gain access to the data in order to work with it, is to decrypt it, which makes it susceptible to the very things you were trying to protect it from. Homomorphic encryption is a solution to this issue. Learn what it means.

1. What Is Homomorphic
Encryption? And Why
Is It So Transformative?

2. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Title
Text
IntroductionIntroduction
The problem with encrypted data is that you must decrypt it in order to work
with it. By doing so, it’s vulnerable to the very things you were trying to
protect it from by encrypting it. There is a powerful solution to this scenario:
homomorphic encryption. Homomorphic encryption might eventually be the
answer for organizations that need to process information while still protecting
privacy and security.
What Is Homomorphic Encryption?
And Why Is It So Transformative?

3. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
What is homomorphic encryption?
Homomorphic encryption makes it possible to analyze or manipulate encrypted
data without revealing the data to anyone. Something as simple as looking for a
coffee shop when you’re out of town reveals huge volumes of data with third
parties as they help you satiate your caffeine craving—the fact that you’re
seeking a coffee shop, where you are when you’re searching, what time it is and
more.
If homomorphic encryption were applied in this fictional coffee search, none of
this information would be visible to any of third parties or service providers such
as Google. In addition, they wouldn’t be able to see what answer you were given
regarding where the coffee shop is and how to get there.

4. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
What is homomorphic encryption?
While we might be willing to part with the data that is exposed when we search
for our next caffeine fix, homomorphic encryption has huge potential in areas
with sensitive personal data such as in financial services or healthcare when the
privacy of a person is paramount. In these cases, homomorphic encryption can
protect the sensitive details of the actual data, but still, be analyzed and
processed.
Another bonus of homomorphic encryption is that unlike other encryption
models in use today, it is safe from getting broken by quantum computers.

5. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
What is homomorphic encryption?
Just like other forms of encryption, homomorphic encryption uses a public key
to encrypt the data. Unlike other forms of encryption, it uses an algebraic
system to allow functions to be performed on the data while it’s still encrypted.
Then, only the individual with the matching private key can access the
unencrypted data after the functions and manipulation are complete. This allows
the data to be and remain secure and private even when someone is using it.

6. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
What is homomorphic encryption?
There are three main types of homomorphic encryption: partially homomorphic
encryption (keeps sensitive data secure by only allowing select mathematical
functions to be performed on encrypted data); somewhat homomorphic
encryption (supports limited operations that can be performed only a set
number of times); fully homomorphic encryption (this is the gold standard of
homomorphic encryption that keeps information secure and accessible).
Dr. Craig Gentry describes homomorphic encryption as a glovebox where
anybody can get their hands into the glovebox and manipulate what's inside,
but they are prevented from extracting anything from the glovebox. They can
only take the raw materials and create something inside the box. When they
finish, the person who has the key can remove the materials (processed data).

7. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Practical Applications of
Homomorphic Encryption
While cryptographers have known of the concept of homomorphic encryption
since 1978, it wasn’t until Dr. Gentry created an algebraically homomorphic
encryption system for his graduate thesis that the idea progressed and when
Gentry established the first homomorphic encryption scheme in 2009. As
mentioned, homomorphic encryption could make our searches more private on
search engines, but there are other practical applications for it when using data
or data is in transit.

8. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Practical Applications of
Homomorphic Encryption
One very relevant way homomorphic encryption can be used is to ensure
democratic elections are secure and transparent. Votes could
be added up while keeping the identities of the voters private; third parties
could verify the results, and voting data would be protected
from manipulation.
It’s been challenging for highly regulated industries to securely outsource data
to cloud environments or data-sharing partners for research and analytics.
Homomorphic encryption could change that since it makes it possible for data
to be analyzed without jeopardizing privacy. This can impact many industries,
including financial services, information technology, healthcare, and more.

9. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
What are the barriers to using
homomorphic encryption?
The biggest barrier to widescale adoption of homomorphic encryption is that it
is still very slow—so slow it’s not yet practical to use for many applications.
However, there are companies such as IBM and Microsoft, and researchers such
as Dr. Gentry who are working diligently to speed up the process by decreasing
the computational overhead that’s required for homomorphic encryption.

10. © 2017 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
© 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website
© 2017 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
© 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website

11. Title
Subtitle
Be the FIRST to receive news,
articles, insights and event
updates from Bernard Marr & Co
straight to your inbox.
Signing up is EASY! Simply fill out
the online form and we’ll be in
touch!
© 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved

12. BernardMarr
hello@bernardmarr.com
www.bernardmarr.com