Why this matters
Encryption is a word that gets used loosely. 'Our email is encrypted,' 'our drive is secured,' 'we have SSL.' None of these statements mean your payment data is protected — and understanding the difference matters when sensitive banking information is at stake.
What Most 'Secure' Storage Actually Means
TLS encryption protects data in transit — while it's moving between your device and a server. Once it lands in your email, Google Drive, or shared spreadsheet, that protection is gone. The data is now accessible to anyone with account access, and in many cases, accessible to the platform provider as well.
Row-level security is different. It means the data is encrypted at rest — not just in motion — and each record is accessible only to the account that created it. Not to the platform operator. Not to other users on shared infrastructure. Only to you.
AES-256 encryption is the standard used by financial institutions and the U.S. government for classified data. It means that even if the underlying storage is compromised, the data is unreadable without your specific key.
What Garded's Security Architecture Means in Practice
AES-256 Encryption at Rest
Every payment detail submitted through Garded is encrypted before it's stored. The raw data never exists in a readable form in the database.
256-bit TLS in Transit
Data in motion between your payee's device and Garded's servers is protected with the same standard used by financial institutions — not just basic SSL.
Row-Level Security
Your payment profiles are isolated at the data level. Other Garded accounts — including Garded's own staff — cannot access your records.
Revocable Access Links
Every payment request link is temporary. If you send one and something feels off, you can revoke it before the payee fills it out. Revocation takes one click.
What you'll need from your Security Companies
| Field | Why it matters | Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Business legal name | For contracts and 1099 | AES-256 encrypted |
| EIN | Security firms bill through licensed LLCs | AES-256 encrypted |
| Bank routing and account | Monthly ACH | AES-256 encrypted |
| License number | Security contractor state license | AES-256 encrypted |
| Invoice date | Same day each month | AES-256 encrypted |
Give Your Payment Data the Security It Deserves
AES-256 encryption. Row-level security. Revocable links. Free to start.
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