The vast majority of the National Security Agency's work on encryption is classified, but from time to time NSA participates in standards processes or otherwise publishes information about its cryptographic algorithms. The NSA has categorized encryption items into four product types, and algorithms into two suites. The following is a brief and incomplete summary of public knowledge about NSA algorithms and protocols.

Type 1 Product

A Type 1 Product refers to an NSA endorsed classified or controlled cryptographic item for classified or sensitive U.S. government information, including cryptographic equipment, assembly or component classified or certified by NSA for encrypting and decrypting classified and sensitive national security information when appropriately keyed."National Information Assurance Glossary"; CNSS Instruction No. 4009 National Information Assurance Glossary

NameTypeSpecificationUseEquipment (incomplete list)R21-TECH-13-00, " 3.0 Specification" (August 2000)AIM (1999 and 2004 brochures), SafeXcel-3340, PSIAM ViaSat Programmable Scalable Information Assurance Model (PSIAM)AES (256-bit keys only)Block cipherFIPS 197NumerousNumerousBATONBlock cipherVariousPKCS#11, CDSA/CSSM, AIM (1999 and 2004 brochures), CYPRIS, APCO Project 25, MYK-85, Fortezza Plus, SecNet-11, Sierra, SafeXcel-3340, PSIAM BAYLESSCYPRISBYTEMANCYPRISCARDIGANCYPRISCARDHOLDERSatellite uplink command encryptionCYPRIS, KI-17, U-AYJ Flight Decrypt Chip (Cardholder), Flight Encrypt Chip (Cardholder), MYK-16, CXS-810, CXS-2000, MCU-100, MCU-600CARIBOUSatellite uplink command encryptionU-TXZ, MYK-15ACRAYONAIM (2004 brochure), CYPRIS (4 modes)FASTHASHCryptographic hash functionMISSI Type 1 hashPKCS #11, CDSA/CSSMFIREFLY / Enhanced FIREFLYEKMS public-key cooperative key generationAIM (2004), SafeXcel-3340, SecNet54, ViaSat KG-25x, PSIAM GOODSPEEDSierra IIHAVE QUICKAntijam, LPI/LPD airborne voice communicationCYPRISJACKNIFEAIM (2004) for IFF Mode 5JOSEKIR21-TECH-0062-92, "JOSEKI-1, A Bootstrap Procedures" (Oct. 1992) (also R21-TECH-13-97, R21-TECH-13-98)Protection of secret algorithms in firmwareAIM, PSIAM JUNIPERBlock cipherPKCS #11, CDSA/CSSMKEESEEAIM (1999 and 2004 brochures), CYPRIS, PSIAM Mark XII IFFIFF secondary radarAIM (2004 brochure)MAYFLYAsymmetric-key algorithmPKCS #11, CDSA/CSSMMEDLEYR21-TECH-30-01, "MEDLEY Implementation Standard" (Nov. 2001)AIM (2004), SecNet 54, SafeXcel-3340, ViaSat KG25x, PSIAM PEGASUSSatellite telemetry and mission data downlinksKG-227, KG-228, KI-17, U-BLW Pegasus Space Microcircuit Chip, U-BLX Pegasus Ground Microcircuit Chip, MYK-17, CXS-810, CXS-2000, MCU-100, MCU-600PHALANXAIM (1999 and 2004 brochures), CYPRIS (PHALANX I and PHALANX II)SAVILLELow-bandwidth voice (and sometimes data) encryptionAIM (1999 and 2004 brochures), CYPRIS (2 modes), Windster (SAVILLE I), VINSONVALLORTTY broadcasts to submarinesAIM (2004)WALBURNHigh-bandwidth link encryptionAIM (2004), KG-81/94/194/95PADSTONECYPRIS (2 modes), Windster, IndictorWEASELSafeXcel-3340

Type 2 Product

A Type 2 Product refers to an NSA endorsed unclassified cryptographic equipment, assemblies or components for sensitive but unclassified U.S. government information.

NameTypeSpecificationUseEquipment (incomplete list)CORDOBACYPRIS, Windster, IndictorKEAAsymmetric-key algorithmR21-Tech-23-94, "Key Exchange Algorithm (KEA)"Key exchange and digital signature algorithm for Fortezza, etc.Fortezza, Fortezza Plus, Palladium Secure ModemSKIPJACKBlock cipherR21-Tech-044-91, "SKIPJACK"Confidentiality algorithm for Fortezza, etc.Fortezza, Fortezza Plus, Palladium Secure Modem

Type 3 Product

Unclassified cryptographic equipment, assembly, or component used, when appropriately keyed, for encrypting or decrypting unclassified sensitive U.S. Government or commercial information, and to protect systems requiring protection mechanisms consistent with standard commercial practices. A Type 3 Algorithm refers to NIST endorsed algorithms, registered and FIPS published, for sensitive but unclassified U.S. government and commercial information.

NameTypeSpecificationUseEquipment (incomplete list)DESData Encryption StandardBlock cipherFIPS 46-3UbiquitousUbiquitousAESAdvanced Encryption StandardBlock cipherFIPS 197NumerousNumerousDSADigital Signature AlgorithmDigital signature systemFIPS 186NumerousNumerousSHASecure Hash AlgorithmCryptographic hash functionFIPS 180-2UbiquitousUbiquitous

Type 4 Product

A Type 4 Algorithm refers to algorithms that are registered by the NIST but are not FIPS published. Unevaluated commercial cryptographic equipment, assemblies, or components that are neither NSA nor NIST certified for any Government usage.

Algorithm Suites Suite A

A set of NSA unpublished algorithms that is intended for highly sensitive communication and critical authentication systems.

Suite B

A set of NSA endorsed cryptographic algorithms for use as an interoperable cryptographic base for both unclassified information and most classified information. Suite B was announced on 16 February 2005, and phased out in 2016.

Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite

A set of cryptographic algorithms promulgated by the National Security Agency as a replacement for NSA Suite B Cryptography until post-quantum cryptography standards are promulgated.

Quantum resistant suite

In August 2015, NSA announced that it is planning to transition "in the not distant future" to a new cipher suite that is resistant to quantum attacks. "Unfortunately, the growth of elliptic curve use has bumped up against the fact of continued progress in the research on quantum computing, necessitating a re-evaluation of our cryptographic strategy." NSA advised: "For those partners and vendors that have not yet made the transition to Suite B algorithms, we recommend not making a significant expenditure to do so at this point but instead to prepare for the upcoming quantum resistant algorithm transition."

See also NSA encryption systems Speck and Simon, light-weight block ciphers, published by NSA in 2013

References