CISSP Training Guide

Uses of Cryptography

Discuss the uses of cryptography including confidentiality, integrity, authentication, and nonrepudiation.

Cryptography (abbreviated crypto) can be used for a variety of purposes to protect information. When most people think of crypto, they think of making sure no one else can read a certain piece of information; keeping their secrets secret. This plays a key role in crypto, but there are actually four other main goals of cryptography. Each of these is discussed in the following sections.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is preventing, detecting, or deterring unauthorized access to information. I have sensitive data and I want no one else to be able to read it. This is a fundamental goal of encryption.

What is important to ...