Encryption

This option offers the possibility to enable AMT-COBOL encryption and manage encryption keys. When the Use encryption checkbox is NOT checked, old style AMT encryption will be used for encrypted fields in all application in this environment. When checked secure AES encryption will be used, once configured correctly.



AMT-COBOL encryption comes with a COM Module for the encryption of data and encrypted transmission from the application server to the Webclient. This Module will be automatically loaded if needed.

To enable the use secure AES encryption throughout the environment, click the 'Edit' button in the upper left, check the use encryption checkbox and click the 'Apply' button.

Before keys can be created an encryption database has to be present. To do this create an empty database, register the database in the Databases page of the ControlCenter with the type set to encryption and perform a reorganization on this database.

After creation of the database secure access to this database has to be enabled by creating a encryption key for the Key manager. Click the 'Edit' button, enter a Pass phrase in the Key manager tab of sufficient length (minimal 20 characters), click the 'Create secure storage' button and click the 'Apply' button.

To enable encryption of the data itself now at least one encryption key has to be stored in the encryption database. To do this click the 'Edit' button in the upper left, go to the Encryption tab and enter a Pass phrase as shown below.



Then click the 'Create key' button and the 'Apply' button. An encryption key has now been created and will be used on all new encrypted fields.

It is possible to add more then one key, automatically the latest key will be used for new encryptions. A reference to the used key will be stored with the encrypted data so the right key will be used for decrypting data. For that reason there is no functionality to remove or change keys.  When keys are manually removed or changed all data encrypted with that specific key is lost forever.

The checkbox Customized should be left unchecked to ensure the use of the provided COM Modules, this option is currently not used in AMT-COBOL.

For more detailed information on implementing encryption see Data Encryption.