System and method for application-independent compartmentalized encryption

A method of encrypting a data file, said method comprising:

• opening the data file;
• selecting, via a first user interface, a portion of the data file;
• encrypting, via an encryption component, the selected portion of the data file as one of a first level of encryption associated with a first authorized user and a second level of encryption associated with a second authorized user so as to create an encrypted data file;
• saving the encrypted data file,
• wherein the encryption component includes an out-of-band encryption key component having stored therein, a first encryption key associated with the first level of encryption and a second encryption key associated with the second level of encryption;
• opening the encrypted data file;
• selecting, via a second user interface, a second portion of the encrypted data file;
• encrypting, via the encryption component, the selected second portion of the data file so as to create an updated encrypted data file;
• and
• saving the updated encrypted data file,
• wherein said encrypting, via the encryption component, the selected portion of the data file comprises encrypting the selected portion of the data file as the first level of encryption associated with a first authorized user, and
• wherein said encrypting, via the encryption component, the selected second portion of the data file comprises encrypting, via the encryption component, the selected second portion of the data file as the second level of encryption associated with the second authorized user.

A non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions being capable of being read by a computer and being capable of instructing the computer to perform the method, said method comprising:

• opening a data file;
• selecting, via a first user interface, a portion of the data file;
• encrypting, via an encryption component, the selected portion of the data file as one of a first level of encryption associated with a first authorized user and a second level of encryption associated with a second authorized user so as to create an encrypted data file;
• saving the encrypted data file,
• wherein the encryption component includes an out-of-band encryption key component having stored therein, a first encryption key associated with the first level of encryption and a second encryption key associated with the second level of encryption;
• opening the encrypted data file;
• selecting, via a second user interface, a second portion of the encrypted data file;
• encrypting, via the encryption component, the selected second portion of the data file so as to create an updated encrypted data file;
• and
• saving the updated encrypted data file,
• wherein said encrypting, via the encryption component, the selected portion of the data file comprises encrypting the selected portion of the data file the first level of encryption associated with a first authorized user, and
• wherein said encrypting, via the encryption component, the selected second portion of the data file comprises encrypting, via the encryption component, the selected second portion of the data file as the second level of encryption associated with the second authorized user.

A method of encrypting a data file, said method comprising:

• opening the data file;
• selecting, via a first user interface, a portion of the data file;
• encrypting, via an encryption component, the selected portion of the data file as one of a first level of encryption associated with a first authorized user and a second level of encryption associated with a second authorized user so as to create an encrypted data file;
• additionally encrypting the encrypted data file by way of a network encryption to generate a network encrypted data file;
• and
• saving the network encrypted data file,
• wherein the encryption component includes an out-of-band encryption key component having stored therein, a first encryption key associated with the first level of encryption and a second encryption key associated with the second level of encryption.