Methods, systems, and devices for enabling and validating data encryption are described. A data storage system (e.g., including a database and validation server) may receive an encryption request indicating a data object or data field. Prior to performing encryption, the validation server may perform one or more validations to determine whether the system supports encrypting the indicated data. The validation server may identify any formula fields that directly or indirectly (e.g., via other formula fields) reference the data object or field, and may determine whether each of these formula fields is encryption compatible. In some cases, the validation process may involve synchronously executing a first set of validators, marking the data as pending encryption, and asynchronously executing a second set of validators. Based on the results of the validation process, the system may or may not encrypt the indicated data, and may transmit an indication of the validation results.