HIMSS Word of the Day #455: Symmetric-Key Cryptography
Symmetric-key cryptography protects data with one shared key that both parties use to encrypt and decrypt. It is simpler and faster than public-key methods, but the key has to be exchanged securely. This post explains the HIMSS Dictionary definition, then reviews five sources: NIST’s AES standard, NIST guidance on storage encryption, the HIPAA Security Rule’s encryption provisions, a patient-centric EHR system that combines AES with elliptic curve cryptography, and a lightweight cipher proposed for wireless body area networks.