Differences Between Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption

[Prakash_S]

Hi There,

I am implementing encryption in servicenow and want to the difference between Symmetric and Asymmetric encryption, which one is more secure and reliable. which i should should use for my encryption.

[Runjay Patel]

Hi @Prakash_S ,

Let me explain you this in details.

Symmetric encryption is the most widely used type of encryption, and it is commonly used in applications such as email, file sharing, and virtual private networks (VPNs). The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is the most popular symmetric algorithm, and AES256 is the strongest symmetric algorithm available. 

Differences:

Symmetric encryption uses the same key for encryption and decryption, while asymmetric encryption uses two different keys, a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. Symmetric encryption is faster and more efficient, while asymmetric encryption is more secure for certain applications.

Security stand point:

Both symmetric and asymmetric encryption methods can be secure when used properly, as long as the public and private keys are managed correctly. However, symmetric encryption is generally considered to be more secure for encrypting large amounts of data, while asymmetric encryption is more secure for secure communication over the internet.

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Runjay Patel - ServiceNow Solution Architect
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[vishwajeet5550]

symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption are two methods used to protect data by transforming it into a secure format, but they differ mainly in how encryption and decryption keys are managed.

Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encrypting and decrypting data, which makes it faster and more efficient, especially for large amounts of data

However, the challenge with symmetric encryption is that if someone obtains the key, they can both encrypt and decrypt the data, which requires careful key management to ensure security

In contrast, asymmetric encryption involves two separate keys a public key to encrypt data and a private key to decrypt it

The public key can be freely shared, but only the holder of the private key can decrypt the data. While asymmetric encryption is generally more secure because the private key is never exposed, it is slower due to the more complex mathematical processes involved.

In ServiceNow symmetric encryption might be used for protecting sensitive data at rest while asymmetric encryption is commonly used for secure communications and authentication, such as when exchanging encrypted data between systems or verifying the authenticity of users with digital signatures