CISSP Training Guide

Domain 5, “Cryptography”

Uses of Cryptography

Cryptography can be used for many purposes. The following are several primary uses:

• Confidentiality— Preventing, detecting, or deterring unauthorized access to information. Confidentiality of information can be obtained through both symmetric and asymmetric encryption.

• Integrity— Preventing, verifying, and detecting the alteration of data or information you have sent. Hash algorithms are typically used to provide for integrity of information.

• Authentication— Identifying an individual or verifying that the individual is part of a certain group. You typically can authenticate someone based on one of three attributes:

  • Something the person knows, such as a password

  • Something the person has, such as a token ...