Are you getting the most out of your data? Is your invaluable data secure and compliant? Your data is your most powerful business tool. It's vital to understand how to utilize and secure it effectively clearly.
According to IBM, companies averagely take about 197 days to identify and 69 days to contain a breach. With troves of data available to dig through, it's easy to see why enterprises have challenges in efficiently managing and securing critical business data.
Businesses that want better outcomes with data strategies need to know how to utilize all available data while keeping it secure.
But how do you protect and at the same time derive valuable insights from your business data and information?
The good news — there are several tools to help you. One of the most important tools available is the hash function.
What is a Hash Function?
Hashing refers to a one-way process that uses a function or algorithm to map any data size to a fixed length. Hashing translates information about a file into a code referred to as a hash value, hash code, or hash sums.
Consequently, a hash function is any function that's used to convert different data sizes to fixed-size values or keys, which then represents the original string. The hash value can be considered as the output string that summarizes the hash function's data.
Properties of Effective Hash Functions
An effective hash function should be:
- One-way
Hashing is a one-way process. Once a hash code/value is generated, it must be extremely difficult to reverse it back to its original data. Technically, it's possible to reverse-hash functions, although the time, effort, and computing power required make it impractical.
- Collision-free
Each hash value is unique. If two different files produce similar unique hash values, this is called a collision, making the function or algorithm fruitless. To achieve a collision-free hash function, no strings should generate a similar output hash. This means that every input string must generate a unique output string referred to as a cryptographic hash function.
- Rapid and Accurate
Hash functions need to be incredibly fast. If generating hash values from a hash function takes overly long, then the process is counterproductive. For this reason, hash values are stored in hash tables to prompt quick access in databases.
Regardless of the same input attempts, a hash function must consistently give the same output. Otherwise, it's considered useless.
- Pre-Image Resistant
A hash function's output must hide any information about the input, thereby resisting attacks to decipher information in a specific hash value.
Uses of Hash Functions
Hashing serves a variety of applications and purposes. Let's take a look at some of the most common hashing functions uses today.
1) Message Digest
Hash functions and codes are used in message digesting. Simply put, they produce an output from which decoding the input is entirely impossible. For instance, enterprises that store sensitive data on the cloud can use hashing functions to secure and protect the data from malicious damage and third-party access.
2) Data Protection and Password Verification
For websites or systems that prompt password verification to authenticate registered users, hashing algorithms used to mask passwords, measure and verify them to avoid security breaches.
3) Digital Signatures
Keys generated using hash functions can add digital signatures to email messages to prevent cyber-attacks such as phishing.
4) Pattern Matching
Pattern matching uses algorithmic hashes to find pre-determined patterns among sequences of raw data or processed tokens, which helps in business intelligence, retrieving and organizing huge chunks of data while understanding client needs.
4) Linking File Paths and Names Together
Suppose you're navigating through files on your data system, and you come across two vital file components named; file name and file a path. You can leverage hash codes in hash tables to create, link, and maintain harmony between the path and name of files.
5) Data Structuring and Compiling
Hashing is used to create key-value pairs where various programming languages have hash table-based data structures. Languages including C++, Java, Python, etc., utilize hash keys. Also, in programming, hash tables use hash codes to identify and differentiate between a software code and other identifiers.
Why Are Hash Functions Important?
Hash functions provide a more secure and flexible method of checking and retrieving data than other data structures. Besides, hashing has proven to be quicker compared to searching for lists and arrays.
Lastly, hashed data and passwords cannot be altered, stolen, or corrupted. And if a hash code happens to fall into the wrong hands, its irreversible nature means that data cannot be retrieved or applied anywhere else.
Hashing can do wonders for your business in the above and more advanced ways. Despite the many other data security tools, hashing remains a highly relevant solution for managing and securing your data.
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