// THREAT DETECTION AND DATA PRIVACY TERM

AES Encryption

AES Encryption, or Advanced Encryption Standard, is a highly secure method for protecting digital data by scrambling it into an unreadable format. It uses a single secret key to both encrypt and decrypt information, making it very difficult for unauthorized individuals to access.

AES Encryption — illustration from Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia

TECHNICAL DEFINITION

AES Encryption refers to the Advanced Encryption Standard, a symmetric-key block cipher algorithm established by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) under FIPS PUB 197. Widely recognized globally for its robust security, AES is critical for data protection across government, defense, and commercial sectors, offering high resistance to cryptanalytic attacks for sensitive information.

BACKGROUND

Computer security is a subdiscipline within the field of information security. It focuses on protecting computer software, systems, and networks from threats that can lead to unauthorized information disclosure, theft, or damage to hardware, software, or data, as well as to the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.

READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIA

SYNONYMS & ALIASES

  • Advanced Encryption Standard
  • Rijndael
  • AES algorithm
  • symmetric-key encryption
  • block cipher

USAGE NOTE

AES is the most widely adopted encryption standard for securing classified government documents, protecting commercial data, and encrypting network traffic like VPNs.

DEVELOPERS

Organizations developing technology related to AES Encryption.

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

    NIST is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce that developed and standardized the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). They continue to research and provide guidelines for its secure implementation.

  • Thales Group

    Thales is a global technology leader in the aerospace, defense, security, and transportation markets. They develop hardware security modules (HSMs) and data encryption solutions that rely on AES to protect sensitive information for governments and enterprises.

  • Entrust

    Entrust provides identity, authentication, and data protection solutions. Their offerings, including PKI, SSL/TLS certificates, and secure email, extensively use AES encryption to ensure data confidentiality and integrity.

  • Intel

    Intel develops microprocessors that include AES-New Instructions (AES-NI), a set of hardware instructions that accelerate the encryption and decryption of data using the AES algorithm, improving performance and security for a wide range of applications.

  • Microsoft

    Microsoft integrates AES encryption into its operating systems (e.g., BitLocker for full disk encryption), cloud services (e.g., Azure Storage Encryption), and various software products to protect user data and ensure secure communications.

  • Cisco

    Cisco develops and sells networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, and other high-technology services and products. Their security solutions, including VPNs, firewalls, and secure communications protocols, heavily leverage AES for data confidentiality.

  • IBM

    IBM offers a broad portfolio of security products and services, including data encryption, key management, and mainframe security solutions, all of which rely on AES to protect critical enterprise data across various environments.

  • Microchip Technology

    Microchip Technology manufactures microcontrollers, mixed-signal, analog, and Flash-IP integrated circuits. Many of their secure microcontrollers and cryptographic ICs include hardware-accelerated AES engines for robust, low-power encryption in embedded and IoT defense applications.

RELATED TERMS IN DEFENSE & ARCHITECTURE