Karolis Scerbiakas

Laravel encryption considerations.

Karolis Ščerbiakas -

Introduction

Laravel offers a straightforward approach to data encryption, providing developers with robust tools such as Encrypted Casting and the Crypt facade. Utilizing powerful algorithms like AES-256-CBC and AES-128-CBC. Laravel ensures the protection of sensitive data through the PHP OpenSSL extension. However, there are important considerations to keep in mind when implementing Laravel's encryption features.

Things to be consider about before using Laravel encryption.

  • The Importance of APP_KEY: Laravel's encryption is tied to the APP_KEY, which is used to sign encrypted data. (Generated via php artisan key:generate) Losing APP_KEY would mean losing access to your encrypted data. If you plan to rotate your APP_KEY, you must decrypt and then re-encrypt all your data, which can be time consuming process. In contrast, using a key management service allows for key rotation without the need to re-encrypt data, saving time and effort.
  • Choose Your Hosting Provider Wisely. Your hosting provider may have access to the APP_KEY. It is important to understand how hosting provider handles sensitive data to prevent unauthorized access. Look for ISO 27001 certification, that would be good sign that provider has taken measures and best practices to secure customer data.
  • Redundancy for APP_KEY: Store your APP_KEY in multiple secure locations to avoid data loss in case of an outage or inability to recover the key from your hosting provider.

Tradeoffs for encryption.

  • While encryption makes your app and data more secure in the event of data breach, by the same token it is more complicated to work with it. Encrypted database values will not work with standard WHERE clauses, requiring alternative methods such as querying by a different column and filtering the results at runtime.
  • In some instanced it can be slow. For example encrypting or decrypting large amounts of data.

Conclusion

Laravel's encryption capabilities are a powerful asset for developers looking to secure their applications. By understanding the key considerations and trade-offs, you can effectively implement encryption while maintaining the integrity and accessibility of your data.