Homomorphic Encryption
A form of encryption that permits computations to be performed on ciphertext, producing an encrypted result that matches the result of operations performed on plaintext.
Homomorphic encryption is the mathematical holy grail for privacy-preserving AI. It allows BasaltHQ agents to perform calculations on encrypted data without ever decrypting it. A healthcare provider can run diagnostic AI on encrypted patient records—the AI produces accurate results, but never "sees" a single patient name, diagnosis, or social security number. While fully homomorphic encryption remains computationally expensive, BasaltHQ uses partially homomorphic schemes for specific high-sensitivity operations like aggregate financial reporting and anonymized population health analytics.
Related Concepts
See also:
Zero-Trust Architecture
A security model that requires strict identity verification for every person and device attempting to access resources, regardless of their network location.
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Context Masking
A privacy technique that pseudonymizes sensitive entities in data before sending it to an external AI model for processing.
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Data Sovereignty
The principle that data is subject to the laws and governance structures of the nation or organization where it is collected or stored.