Systems and methods for securing or encrypting data or other information arising from a user's interaction with software and/or hardware, resulting in transformation of original data into ciphertext. Generally, the ciphertext is generated using context-based keys that depend on the environment in which the original data originated and/or accessed. The ciphertext can be stored in a user's storage device or in an enterprise database (e.g., at-rest encryption), or shared with other users (e.g., cryptographic communication). Use of context-based encryption keys enables key association with individual data elements, as opposed to public-private key pairs, or use of conventional user-based or system-based keys. In scenarios wherein data is shared by a sender with other users, the system manages the rights of users who are able to send and/or access the sender's data according to pre-defined policies/roles.