(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is classified as symmetric encryption because it uses the same key for both the encryption and decryption processes. This means that both the sender and the receiver must have access to the same key, which must be kept secret. The symmetric nature allows for fast processing and efficiency, making AES suitable for encrypting large amounts of data.

RSA, on the other hand, is classified as asymmetric encryption. Asymmetric encryption utilizes a pair of keys: a public key that can be shared openly and a private key that is kept secret by the owner. In RSA, data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted with the corresponding private key, enabling secure communication even in scenarios where the public key is widely distributed.

The distinction between symmetric and asymmetric encryption is pivotal in cybersecurity practices, as it influences how data security measures are implemented in various applications, such as data encryption, secure communications, and identity verification.