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How to Encrypt a Google Doc?
Google Docs is part of the CCP environment. CCP refers to the Content Collaboration Platform and they ideally work with the live content creation and collaboration. These platforms let multiple users work simultaneously on a single project in real-time. This type of technology and working does not support encryption. Encrypting it can make it difficult to handle the basic functionality of Google Docs.
However, there are a few options that can be useful in providing you access to this limitation. You can opt for a few good options to ensure that you will get access to a high level of security.
Some of the best options useful in achieving the best encryption can include a few of the following-
Transport Layer Security or TLS
Google Docs is a live platform and there are several complexities included in it. Ideally, you will find that Google Docs and a host of the Google Drive apps encrypt the connection between the web browser and Google Drive. This is done through the means of enforcement of Transport Layer Security (TLS).
To enable TLS, you do not need to enable any sort of setting. It uses the asymmetric encryption and it assists you in initiating the secure connectivity between the user and Google Docs. This method will keep the data encrypted at the transit level, but it will remain vulnerable at the network level. Even the content on the Google Docs is not encrypted. Since the content is shared between multiple users, it should always remain unencrypted.
Sharding
When it is time to edit the document, you can download it, open it from within Microsoft Word and decrypt it by providing the password. Once you edit it, you can re-upload it to Google Doc.
You may also use a host of other encryption tools such as VeraCrypt or Boxcrypt.
Protect your devices
Google Docs does not have an option to apply individual encryption on any of the documents. Of course, they are protected on the Google servers. Keeping your devices secure can be one of the best options to safeguard the data.
Some of the options that can prove to be much effective can include using a strong password, enabling a two-factor authentication, and using a hardware-based security. With these security measures in place, you can be assured that no one will be able to access your data or your account – of course, unless you have shared the document with them.
The Bottom Line
Until the time Google comes up with an encryption feature for Google Docs, there is no way you can encrypt a Google Doc on Google Drive. As you have already found out, Google makes use of the security features such as Sharding and TLS to secure the Google Docs. Applying the high-end encryption to the documents directly is not possible simply because of the CCP nature of the functionality.
Make use of the above methods if you really have extra sensitive documents. Otherwise, Google does take care of the protection of your documents.
