Random number generators (RNGs) are an unsung hero of the tech world – but they’re crucial bits of technology that support key areas of business. So, let’s take a look at a few ways that businesses can utilize the randomness of RNGs in various areas of the company.
Random Sampling
RNGs have long since been used by businesses like online casinos to provide fair and authentic gameplay. In essence, RNGs digitize the unpredictable outcome that a player would get from rolling a dice, or spinning a physical wheel. Take online slots, for example – in games like Starburst slot RNGs randomly decide which stars and jewels land on the reels during each spin. The results of each spin cannot be predetermined, which ensures that the games are down to luck, therefore making them more immersive.
This same logic can be applied to other areas of business where results need to be completely random to ensure fairness. RNGs can be leveraged to choose randomized samples of consumers or products which can then be used for market research or quality control. As the samples cannot be predicted in advance, this allows businesses to get a representative overview of their consumers and products. From this data, organizations can make key decisions on how to improve their offerings or solve any pain points before it becomes a larger issue.
Online Security
One of the key things to a successful business is having a robust online security policy. That said, though companies can make the effort to put everything in place, this is reliant on employees following protocols at all times – we all know someone who has a book full of their passwords! According to a survey by Digital Guardian, 38.6% of people write their passwords down on paper, and 9.5% keep them in a file on their computer. With this in mind, encryption can serve as an additional layer of security to protect sensitive data.
Encryption is carried out using what’s known as cryptographic keys. These keys essentially lock the data and only allow authorized personnel to unlock them. They are sequences of ‘random bits’ – it is essential that the sequences are completely random, which is ensured by an initialization vector (IV). IVs are generated by RNGs to make sure that random bits are completely unique each time, allowing businesses to encrypt the data several times with different encryption keys.
Secure Payments
Whether consumers make payment over the phone, online, or in person, it is important to ensure that their payment information is secure in your network. One way to do this is by using software that supports virtual card numbers. This is already utilized by digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. In these cases, the device generates a Device Primary Account Number (DPAN) which is a tokenized version of the actual card details.
RNGs can generate randomized card numbers, account numbers, and card verification values (CVVs), which is used for payment in place of the actual card details. The cardholder’s bank will be able to match up the tokenized details to the real details to process the payment, which means only authorized businesses can see the actual payment details for added security.
And there you have it – just a few ways that RNGs can be harnessed in businesses. From protecting card details to bolstering online security, and even assisting market research and quality control, the applications are endless.