What the rise in encrypted messaging apps means for other companies

Do you think companies will start to further prioritize E2E encryption?

Their best answers are below:

1. More apps for use will be developed 

With more concern over how to ensure some semblance of privacy for conversations and the ongoing news stories where emails and other online correspondence become public, there is a definite need to prioritize these types of systems and further offer applications where the application would be beneficial. – John Rampton, Due

2. E2E will become the norm 

What seems like a hot topic of discussion today will become the norm in the times to come. In the wake of Apple’s landmark fight with the FBI over the encrypted iPhone of San Bernadino killer Syed Rizwan Farook, companies are pushing towards providing users the additional control over their privacy and security. This would also absolve the companies from having any access to user data, especially during legal battles or entanglements with the law enforcement authorities. The technology itself will evolve, however, as they say that it’s the hackers that raise the bar on security. – Rahul Varshneya, Arkenea LLC

3. Companies will prioritize E2E encryption 

E2E encryption is a start in the right direction of securing privileged and confidential information between devices. There’s always the risk that one end point device can be hacked and the encryption key stolen, but that’s a manageable security issue. Perhaps companies should start to prioritize E2E encryption systems. It will be interesting to see how WhatsApp shakes out. – Nicole Munoz, Start Ranking Now

4. E2E will become mainstream over time 

This may still take time to become mainstream as businesses need to learn more about how it would apply to what they are trying to do and determine if it would really help them with their own objectives. There may be faster adoption across certain industries and business segments who understand immediately how they could use it. – Drew Hendricks, Buttercup

5. It will start with Hollywood and governments 

The most high profile entities to fall victim to the leaking of private correspondence have not been companies. Instead, it’s been government employees and Hollywood executives who have gotten caught foot-in-mouth. So, these entities will likely lead the way in adopting encryption systems for internal communications. Companies will follow suit once pricing becomes more competitive. Consumers will also start to expect encrypted correspondence as standard practice, placing further pressure on companies to adopt the technology. – Manpreet Singh, TalkLocal

6. It will be essential for app developers 

As data security becomes more prevalent and concerns over privacy and security grow, E2E encryption will be a primary concern for app developers. Data has become a coveted currency, and as technologies evolve and more data becomes available, securing data will continue to become increasingly fundamental. By offering E2E encryption, Whatsapp scored a major point in keeping users engaged and feeling safe/secure. Other app developers must follow suit. – Marcela De Vivo, Brilliance

7. Encryption is already going mainstream 

I have been in the encryption business for the past nine years, and I’ve seen that the adoption rate for encryption is only growing. Thank the media for bringing all of these data breaches and government actions to light. I am seeing businesses adopt encryption for various facets of their businesses, but I’m not sure about the E2E encryption systems. Businesses fear the loss of data due to encryption so they are looking for some sort of key escrow to recover data when needed. Personally, I think E2E encryption is more of a consumer-level implementation where data loss wouldn’t be a disaster. – Tim Maliyil, AlertBoot

8. E2E is just the beginning 

As connectivity and security risks grow, so will the need to stay protected. Having E2E encryption systems will help companies keep their correspondence secure and untampered with. Stories about leaked and tapped correspondence are nothing new in the press, therefore it’s clear that companies will take the measures necessary to make sure they’re protected, if they haven’t done so already. However, E2E is just the beginning. As technology progresses so will security, including encryption systems. – Shalyn Dever, Chatter Buzz

9. You should already be using E2E where possible 

E2E encryption systems should already be in use in most cases where available. The most reputable internal enterprise messaging apps such as HipChat already feature end-to-end encryption and it’s available on desktop and mobile platforms. Both internal and external communication channels should be encrypted to provide protection against an ever-increasing number of digital threats. Encryption isn’t 100 percent foolproof, but preventing a sensitive data breach should be a top priority for any company — and E2E helps. – Duran Inci, Optimum7

10. Companies need to focus on E2E encryption to gain trust 

If corporate networks can’t banish insecure devices, it becomes a company’s responsibility to make sure that customer and corporate data is protected while at rest and when traveling over the network. Companies who don’t focus on end-to-end encryption in the coming years will lose the trust of users and risk exposing sensitive data. – Justin Blanchard, ServerMania Inc.