AES

A symmetric key encryption algorithm that supports key lengths of 128, 192, and 256 bits. AES superseded Triple DES (Data Encryption Standard), which has a 128-key length and is considered too slow and processor-intensive. Developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), AES has been adopted by the United States government for use with sensitive unclassified documents. See also algorithm, DES, encryption, key, NIST, and Triple DES.