How safe are encrypted radios?

In 2011, Washington D.C.’s Chief of Police Cathy L. Lanier shared that the police department found itself in a troubling situation: carjackers were listening in on police radio calls using cheap scanners and smartphone apps. By tracking officers in real time, criminals could tell which areas and cars were most vulnerable. As a result, the department moved quickly and encrypted all police radio traffic.

Thankfully, the encryption worked. But it also showed how easily sensitive information can leak when comms aren’t properly secured. Even with strict protocols and technical resources, law enforcement still faced gaps that exposed their conversations. If this can happen to police, imagine how vulnerable a retailer’s loss prevention team or a hospital’s security staff can be when they rely on unsecured tech.

And that’s the problem. Most teams don’t think about how encryption actually works until something goes wrong.

Not all encryption is created equal

On the face of it, the idea behind encryption is pretty straightforward. It involves scrambling messages so that they can only be read by someone who has the right digital key. And these digital keys are basically just long strings of random numbers that work like super strong passwords.

But when it comes to radios, not all encryption is created equal. The level of security often depends on how much you pay and what the device is built for. 

• Business-grade radios (around $400–$700) use short encryption keys that stop casual listeners but won’t block someone determined to break in. They offer basic privacy, not true security.
  
  
• Industrial and first responder radios (around $700–$1,500) use stronger and longer encryption keys that are much harder to crack. They can be very secure, but only if the teams managing them regularly rotate the keys and handle setup properly.
  
  
• Mission-critical radios (around $1,500–$4,000) use the same strong encryption but add tools that make it easier to manage securely. Keys can be changed remotely through a feature called Over-the-Air Rekeying (OTAR), and many models meet federal security standards known as FIPS. However, some channels are often left unencrypted so different agencies can communicate when they need to.
  
  
• Military or special-contract radios (around $5,000–$7,000) include all those protections and add secure key loaders, which are handheld devices that safely transfer encryption keys without exposing them. Even so, the system can still be compromised if a device is lost or the keys are mishandled.

Yet at every level, the same lesson holds true: no matter how much you spend on a radio, communication isn’t truly secure unless it’s managed correctly. Traditional radio systems leave room for human error, and that’s often where security breaks down.

Where radio encryption falls short

Given how important it is to have secure comms, you’d think encryption would be standard. But even radios that can encrypt often ship with the feature turned off. The reasons are mostly practical. Many teams use a mix of old and new radios, and not every device supports encryption. Some organizations skip it to avoid extra licensing fees, or they leave channels open so outside partners can join in. And sometimes it’s simply a matter of awareness. People just assume encryption is already on when it isn’t. The result is a system that looks secure on paper but leaves gaps in practice.

Closing those gaps isn’t complicated. Use strong, modern encryption like AES-256, which scrambles messages so thoroughly that even powerful computers can’t break it. Rotate encryption keys regularly so old ones can’t be exploited. If your system supports remote key updates, turn that on to simplify management. Deactivate lost or unused devices quickly. And most importantly, train your teams to understand how encryption works and why it matters. The challenge is that doing all this still takes time and leaves room for human error, which is exactly where Zello makes things easier.

Zello: Encryption that’s always on

Traditional radios make encryption possible, but Zello makes it automatic. Every push-to-talk message is protected with AES-256 encryption, and there are no extra licenses or settings to worry about. The keys are managed and refreshed in the cloud, which removes the risk of human error.

Furthermore, Zello also gives IT teams full visibility and control. Admins can set security policies and deactivate accounts when needed. Since Zello works on basically any smart device and with any operating system, conversations stay protected no matter whether teams are using phones, tablets, or rugged handhelds.

With Zello, security isn’t something you add on or turn on. It’s built into every message from the start.

Protect your team’s communication with Zello. Get started today.