DATA ENCRYPTION SCHEME USING SYMMETRIC KEYS

In one aspect there is provided a computer-implemented method for encrypting a data element. The method includes generating a symmetric key and encrypting the data element using the symmetric key. The method also includes identifying one or more entities in a policy database that are authorized to access the data element, and retrieving a public key associated with each of the one or more entities. The method also includes, for each entity of the entities that are authorized to access the data element, encrypting the symmetric key using the public key associated with the entity to obtain an encrypted symmetric key, and appending the encrypted symmetric key to a file storing the encrypted data element.