Cryptography Standards and Infrastructures for the Twenty-First Century

Published

September 17, 1998

Author(s)

Shirley M. Radack

Abstract

This bulletin reports on the progress being made by NIST and by its government and industry partners to advance the development of electronic commerce systems in which users will have confidence. There are efforts underway to update existing standards for cryptography; to develop new and stronger forms of encryption; and to create infrastructures that will support safe electronic transactions in future networks.The Internet is opening up new ways for consumers, industry, and governments to conduct business and to exchange information electronically. Electronic ordering and payments can be handled efficiently and conveniently over the network. Electronic mail and informational Web pages have become institutional resources. Yet the full benefits of electronic commerce and information exchanges will not be realized until users have sufficient trust and confidence in the security and privacy of their information. Cryptography has had, and will continue to have, an important role in protecting information both within a computer system and when information is sent over the Internet. Cryptography serves many functions in secure business transactions by providing ways to assure data confidentiality, data integrity, authentication of message originator, user authentication, electronic certification of data, and nonrepudiation.

Citation

ITL Bulletin -

NIST Pub Series

ITL Bulletin

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

cryptography, digital signatures, electronic commerce, encryption, key exchange, key recovery, public key infrastructure, security

Citation

Radack, S. (1998), Cryptography Standards and Infrastructures for the Twenty-First Century, ITL Bulletin, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=150688 (Accessed October 31, 2024)