Cryptographic Systems and Encryption Terminology
2-10
Hewlett-Packard Company Virtual Private Networking Concepts Guide
Symmetric Vs. Asymmetric Cryptography
Symmetric Vs. Asymmetric Cryptography
Symmetric Vs. Asymmetric Cryptography
Symmetric Vs. Asymmetric Cryptography
Symmetric and asymmetric cryptography have some significant
differences. Symmetric cryptography tends to be fast compared
to asymmetric cryptography. Therefore, symmetric algorithms
are often used when large quantities of data need to be
exchanged and the 2 parties are known to each other.
Conversely, asymmetric algorithms are used when small
quantities of data need to be exchanged or the 2 parties are not
known to each other.
Asymmetric cryptography is often used during authentication
processes. Another significant difference between the 2 types of
cryptographic systems is the length of the keys required by the
algorithms. The keys used in symmetric algorithms are usually
much smaller than those used in asymmetric algorithms, as
described in the following table.
Related
Related
Related
Related
Information
Information
Information
Information
Asymmetric Cryptographic Systems (page 2-9)
Symmetric Cryptographic Systems (page 2-3)
Key Space and Brute Force Attacks (page 2-13)
Symmetric
Symmetric
Symmetric
Symmetric
Asymmetric
Asymmetric
Asymmetric
Asymmetric
Speed
Fast
Slow
Key size
Relatively small
Extremely large
Key usage
Shared secret
Public/private
Usual usage
Bulk data transfer
Authentication
Examples
DES, Triple Pass
DES, 3DES, rc4
RSA, PGP
