Abstract
In this study, a method is proposed in
order to evaluate the security of a cryptographic system, which besides of its
cryptographic algorithm which is embedded into the system, includes other
critical individual units and security mechanisms. If some of these security
mechanisms are inadequate, they may reduce the initial security of the system
which is provided by the strength of its cryptographic algorithm. The
evaluation method combines the strength of the system’s cryptographic algorithm
with the strength of all the other security mechanisms and gives a final
assessment for the security grade of the whole system. At the end of the study
the necessary conditions are presented, for the validity and the duration of
the evaluation, taking into account the expected evolution of technology.
Keywords:
Cryptography, Data encryption, Communication
security, Computer security, Data security, Information security.