NIST has released a draft of Special Publication 800-71, which provides recommendations for establishing keys using symmetric block ciphers. This publication aims to address the growing need for secure key management techniques in light of the emerging threat of quantum computing, which can break many current public key cryptography algorithms.
Symmetric key cryptography, which is more computationally efficient than public key cryptography, is expected to play a crucial role in securing data against quantum attacks. However, there is limited guidance available on using symmetric key cryptography for key establishment. Draft SP 800-71 aims to fill this gap by providing recommendations for key establishment using symmetric block ciphers, which can help mitigate the risks associated with public key cryptography in the face of quantum computing technology.
NIST is seeking public comments on the draft publication by September 28, 2018. Comments should be submitted to SP_800-71[at]nist.gov, with “Comments on Draft SP 800-71” in the subject line.
Keywords: block ciphers, symmetric key cryptography, key establishment, public key cryptography, quantum computing
