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Security Dictionary
Can't tell 'smtp' from 'snmp'? Find the precise meaning of these and hundreds of other security-related terms in our convenient and up-to-date Security Dictionary.
key distribution center (KDC)
(I) A type of key center (used in symmetric cryptography) that
implements a key distribution protocol to provide keys (usually,
session keys) to two (or more) entities that wish to communicate
securely. (See: key translation center.)
(C) A KDC distributes keys to Alice and Bob, who (a) wish to
communicate with each other but do not currently share keys, (b)
each share a KEK with the KDC, and (c) may not be able to generate
or acquire keys by themselves. Alice requests the keys from the
KDC. The KDC generates or acquires the keys and makes two
identical sets. The KDC encrypts one set in the KEK it shares with
Alice, and sends that encrypted set to Alice. The KDC encrypts the
second set in the KEK it shares with Bob, and either sends that
encrypted set to Alice for her to forward to Bob, or sends it
directly to Bob (although the latter option is not supported in
the ANSI standard [A9017]).
