TLS vs. TDF: Base vs Gold Standard for Data Security

When it comes to protecting sensitive data, not all encryption solutions are created equal.  Simply stated, Transport Layer Security (TLS) is the baseline standard for encrypting pipes that transmit sensitive data.  Conversely, Trusted Data Format (TDF) is the gold standard for securing individual data objects -- both in transit and at rest.

Let’s explore how these standards stack up.

TLS: The Base Standard

TLS is the base standard for encrypting communication channels that carry sensitive information across networks, securing everything from web browsing to email communications. Here’s what TLS offers:

• Basic Encryption: TLS ensures that communication channels are encrypted when carrying data, protecting it from interception during transmission over networks.
• Basic Compliance: While TLS meets minimum compliance requirements for data security regulations like HIPAA and GDPR – it falls short of stringent regimes such as ITAR and CJIS.
• No Protection at Rest: Once the data reaches its destination, TLS offers no safeguards, leaving sensitive information vulnerable.
• Lack of Granular Control: TLS cannot enforce fine-grained access controls or advanced policies like expiration and revocation.

In short, TLS is a foundational tool for securing communication channels, but not the data itself.

TDF: The Gold Standard

The Trusted Data Format (TDF) elevates security to the next level by protecting the data itself; during transmission, and also at rest.  TDF provides:

• End-to-End Encryption: Data remains encrypted throughout its entire lifecycle—whether in transit, at rest, or inside or outside your organization.
• Advanced Compliance: TDF enables adherence to strict standards like ITAR and CJIS, making it ideal for organizations handling highly sensitive information.
• Persistent Protection: Unlike TLS, which stops protecting data after transmission, TDF security policies follow the data wherever it goes, and never stop working.
• Granular Controls: Policies such as expiration, revocation, and access auditing are embedded directly into the data itself.

Unlike TLS, which only secures the communication channel, TDF provides encryption and protection for the actual data.

Why Should Anyone Care?

Imagine you're a healthcare professional handling sensitive patient information. The number one cause of HIPAA violations is accidentally sending Protected Health Information (PHI) via email to the wrong address.

This is where the unique capabilities of TDF over TLS become crucial. With TLS, it's like sending a confidential letter through a secure courier service - the journey is protected, but once delivered, anyone can read the contents. If you send PHI to the wrong email address, TLS can't help you - the data is out there, unprotected.

TDF, on the other hand, protects the data itself -- even when it is accidentally sent to the wrong person, which means you can instantly revoke access.  This means TDF offers a powerful solution to the most common HIPAA breach scenario.  With TDF, you maintain control over your data even after it's sent, providing immediate remediation options that TLS simply can't match.

Also, when it comes to the TLS base standard, there is one additional fact that organizations should care about: 10% of email domains still do not support it due to outdated configurations, lack of proper certificates, or unsupported encryption protocols.  This creates two potential outcomes for emails sent with TLS:

1. Failed Delivery: If the sender’s system enforces “mandatory TLS” and the recipient server does not support it, the email will not be delivered.
2. Unencrypted Transmission: With “optional TLS” configurations, emails default to plaintext if TLS is unavailable, exposing them to interception

Juxtaposition: TLS vs. TDF

Bottom Line

TLS serves as the base standard for "securing pipes" that carry sensitive data -- but it does nothing to secure the actual data itself.

TDF serves as the gold standard for "securing the data itself" -- which enables organizations to improve real security.

By partnering with experts like Virtru and leveraging TDF’s capabilities, organizations can do more than just “check boxes”, they can actually “secure data”.