Recommendation for Cryptographic Key Generation

Published

July 23, 2019

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 Rev. 1

Report Number

800-133 Rev. 1

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Supercedes Publication

Recommendation for Cryptographic Key Generation

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DOI Link

Keywords

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

Citation

Barker, E. and Roginsky, A. (2019), 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.800-133r1 (Accessed October 9, 2025)