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This page discusses client-side encryption, which is any data encryption you
perform prior to sending your data to Cloud Storage. For other encryption options,
see Data Encryption Options.
When you perform client-side encryption, you must create and manage your own
encryption keys, and you must use your own tools to encrypt data prior to
sending it to Cloud Storage. Data that you encrypt on the client side arrives
at Cloud Storage in an encrypted state, and Cloud Storage has no knowledge
of the keys you used to encrypt the data.
When Cloud Storage receives your data, it is encrypted a second time. This
second encryption is called server-side encryption, which Cloud Storage
manages. When you retrieve your data, Cloud Storage removes the server-side
layer of encryption, but you must decrypt the client-side layer yourself.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Hard to understand","hardToUnderstand","thumb-down"],["Incorrect information or sample code","incorrectInformationOrSampleCode","thumb-down"],["Missing the information/samples I need","missingTheInformationSamplesINeed","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-09-04 UTC."],[],[],null,["# Client-side encryption keys\n\nThis page discusses *client-side encryption* , which is any data encryption you\nperform prior to sending your data to Cloud Storage. For other encryption options,\nsee [Data Encryption Options](/storage/docs/encryption).\n\nWhen you perform client-side encryption, you must create and manage your own\nencryption keys, and you must use your own tools to encrypt data prior to\nsending it to Cloud Storage. Data that you encrypt on the client side arrives\nat Cloud Storage in an encrypted state, and Cloud Storage has no knowledge\nof the keys you used to encrypt the data.\n\nWhen Cloud Storage receives your data, it is encrypted a second time. This\nsecond encryption is called *server-side encryption*, which Cloud Storage\nmanages. When you retrieve your data, Cloud Storage removes the server-side\nlayer of encryption, but you must decrypt the client-side layer yourself.\n\nYou can use the open source cryptographic SDK, Tink, to perform client-side\nencryption, then protect your keys with Cloud Key Management Service. For more\ndetails, see [Client-side encryption with Tink and Cloud Key Management Service](/kms/docs/client-side-encryption).\n| **Warning:** Cloud Storage doesn't know if your data has already been encrypted on the client side and has no knowledge of your client-side encryption keys. You must securely manage your client-side keys and ensure that they are not lost. If you lose your keys, you are no longer able to read your data, and you continue to be charged for storage of your objects until you delete them."]]
