Data in use is data that’s actively being worked on, whether it’s loaded into RAM, crunched by the CPU, pulled from a database, edited in a document, or used by an app. It’s the stage where information is being put to use, not just sitting around.
This presents the trickiest security challenge. Data must stay accessible for legitimate work while blocking unauthorized access or tampering. During processing, information often exists unencrypted in system memory, creating exposure risks traditional encryption can’t fix without breaking functionality.
Hardware security features help. Intel’s SGX, AMD’s memory encryption, and secure enclaves create isolated processing zones where sensitive data works without exposure to other applications or system processes.
Application security layers include solid coding practices, input validation, output encoding, and session management. Runtime protection tools watch application behavior and flag suspicious activities. The latest approaches, confidential computing and homomorphic encryption, are starting to add new layers of protection even during computation.
Real-world examples: database transactions, document editing, financial calculations, analytics processing, and encryption operations. Each scenario needs specific security controls matching data sensitivity, access patterns, and performance needs.
Cloud computing, containers, and shared processing environments make protection harder. Multiple applications or tenants sharing system resources require comprehensive security architectures that maintain data confidentiality throughout processing.
As processing environments grow more distributed and complex, protecting data during its most vulnerable state is essential for smooth, secure business operations.
Discover our in-depth strategies for securing data in use, including the latest innovations and practical steps:
