K

KDC

See Key Distribution Center (KDC).

KEA

See Key Exchange Algorithm (KEA).

Kerberos

An authentication scheme that uses tickets (unique keys) embedded within messages. Named after the three-headed guard dog who stood at the gates of Hades in Greek mythology.

key/certificate life cycle

The time during which the processes of a key or certificate take place.

Key Distribution Center (KDC)

An organization/facility that generates keys for users.

key escrow agency

An agency that stores keys for the purpose of law-enforcement access.

Key Exchange Algorithm (KEA)

A method of offering mutual authentication and establishing data encryption keys.

key generation

The act of creating keys for use by users.

key suspension

The temporary deferment of a key for a period of time (such as for a leave of absence).

Keyed-Hash Message Authentication Code (HMAC)

"A mechanism for message authentication using cryptographic hash functions" per the draft of the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) publication. Addressed in RFC 2104.