Secret Key
Secret Key: A cryptographic key that is used with a (symmetric) cryptographic algorithm that is uniquely associated with one or more entities and is not made…
Definition
A cryptographic key that is used with a (symmetric) cryptographic algorithm that is uniquely associated with one or more entities and is not made public. The use of the term “secret” in this context does not imply a classification level, but rather implies the need to protect the key from disclosure.
Alternative Definitions
- Definition 2
A cryptographic key that is used for both encryption and decryption, enabling the operation of a symmetric key cryptography scheme.
- Definition 3
A cryptographic key that is used with a secret-key (symmetric) cryptographic algorithm that is uniquely associated with one or more entities and is not made public. The use of the term “secret” in this context does not imply a classification level, but rather implies the need to protect the key from disclosure. SOURCE: SP 800-57 Part 1 (NISTIR)