Answer guide · Data protection

Encryption at rest: how to answer it in a security questionnaire

Usually asked as: “Describe your data encryption at rest strategy.”

Updated

What the buyer is really asking

If someone walks off with a disk, a snapshot, or a backup, can they read it? Name the algorithm, list what it covers (databases, object storage, backups), and say who controls the keys.

Other ways buyers ask it

Every one of these wants the same answer:

  • “Is customer data encrypted at rest?”
  • “What encryption standard do you use for stored data?”
  • “Are database backups encrypted?”
  • “Describe how data at rest is protected.”

Evidence to have ready

  • An encryption or cryptography policy naming the algorithm (for example AES-256)
  • Cloud configuration showing encryption enabled on databases, buckets, and backups
  • The relevant section of a SOC 2 report or your cloud provider's attestation

How Tyrvar answers this

Tyrvar treats every wording above as one question. You write the answer once, attach the evidence, and revisit it when your setup changes. Each buyer gets that approved answer no matter how their questionnaire words it. If you have not answered it yet, Tyrvar flags the question for you and does not make something up. Try it on your own questionnaire.

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