scope:

This part of ISO/IEC 11770:

1. identifies the objective of key management;

2. describes a general model on which key management mechanisms are based;

3. defines the basic concepts of key management common to all the parts of this multi-part Standard;

4. defines key management services;

5. identifies the characteristics of key management mechanisms;

6. specifies requirements for the management of keying material during its life cycle; and

7. describes a framework for the management of keying material during its life cycle.

This framework defines a general model of key management that is independent of the use of any particular cryptographic algorithm. However, certain key distribution mechanisms may depend on particular algorithm properties, for example, properties of asymmetric algorithms.

Specific key management mechanisms are addressed by other parts of ISO/IEC 11770. Symmetric mechanisms are addressed in part 2 (ISO/IEC 11770-2, Information technology - Security techniques - Key management - Part 2: Mechanisms using symmetric techniques). Asymmetric mechanisms are addressed in part 3 (ISO/IEC 11770-3, Information technology - Security techniques - Key management - Part 3: Mechanisms using asymmetric techniques). This part of ISO/IEC 11770 contains the material required for a basic und erstanding of parts 2 and 3. Examples of the use of key management mechanisms are included in ISO 8732 and ISO 11166. If non-repudiation is required for key management, ISO/IEC 13888 should be used.

This part of ISO/IEC 11770 addresses both the automated and manual aspects of key management, including outlines of data elements and sequences of operations that are used to obtain key management services. However it does not specify details of protocol exchanges that may be needed.

As with other security services, key management can only be provided within the context of a defined security policy. The definition of security policies is outside the scope of this multi-part standard.