Encryption can protect your data, but it can also play havoc with other storage applications.

Encryption would seem to be a critical technology in today's world of embarrassing data losses, but studies reveal that it's rarely used. So why is data that should be encrypted left alone, even as numerous products target this exact problem? Simply put, encryption is a chain, not just a single link, and unless each point in the data path includes encryption and decryption, other desirable functions are lost. Users have opted to leave their data unencrypted, relying on access control to keep data safe. But recent industry moves may change that practice.