Recommendation for Cryptographic Key Generation

Published

December 21, 2012

Author(s)

Elaine B. Barker, Allen L. Roginsky

Abstract

Cryptography is often used in an information technology security environment to protect data that is sensitive, has a high value, or is vulnerable to unauthorized disclosure or undetected modification during transmission or while in storage. Cryptography relies upon two basic components: an algorithm (or cryptographic methodology) and a cryptographic key. This Recommendation discusses the generation of the keys to be managed and used by the approved cryptographic algorithms.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 800-133

Report Number

800-133

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Superceded By Publication

Recommendation for Cryptographic Key Generation

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-133

Local Download

Keywords

asymmetric key, key agreement, key derivation, key generation, key wrapping, key replacement, key transport, key update, private key, public key, symmetric key

Citation

Barker, E. and Roginsky, A. (2012), Recommendation for Cryptographic Key Generation, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-133 (Accessed October 11, 2025)