encryption as a service (EaaS)

Encryption as a Service (EaaS) is a subscription model that allows cloud service customers to take advantage of the security that encryption offers without having to install and use encryption on their own. 

EaaS takes advantage of the “as a service” concept to make data encryption a simple, pay-as-you go service the customer purchases from their cloud provider. This approach can provide customers who lack the resources to manage encryption themselves with a way to address regulatory compliance concerns and protect data in a multi-tenant environment. Cloud encryption offerings may include full-disk encryption, database encryption or file encryption. EaaS is often marketed as a value-added enhancement for desktop as a service (DaaS), hosted virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), software as a service (SaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) offerings. Some subscription models allow the customer to create and manage their own encryption keys. 

EaaS may also be referred to as cryptography as a service or crypto as a service.  The concept of EaaS can be contrasted with BYOE (bring your own encryption), an approach that allows customers to use a virtual instance of their own encryption software.