NSA Cryptography

The National Security Agency (NSA) has categorized encryption items into four types and encryption algorithms into suites.

Encryption Types
Type 1
A Type 1 Product refers to an NSA endorsed classified or controlled cryptographic item for classified or sensitive U.S. government information.

Type 2

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

Type 3

A Type 3 Algorithm refers to NIST endorsed algorithms, registered and FIPS published, for sensitive but unclassified U.S. government and commercial information.

Type 4

A Type 4 Algorithm refers to algorithms that are registered by the NIST but are not FIPS published.

Algorithm Suites
Suite A
A set of NSA unpublished algorithms intended for highly sensitive communication and critical authentication systems.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.
 
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