What is AES256 encryption?

AES256 uses a 256-bit key length to encrypt and decrypt blocks of messages. The large key size on the encryption makes brute force attacks impossible, as it’s computationally infeasible to break the encryption by trying all possible combinations. The US Government relies on AES256 to protect classified data.

Key features of AES-256 encryption

AES-256 encryption is highly secure. Its key features include:

• Substitution-permutation network: The encryption process runs on mathematical operations, such as substitution and permutation. These processes are also called transformations, serving to confuse data, so it’s impossible to reverse engineer to its original form.

• Symmetric encryption: AES256 is a symmetric encryption algorithm, meaning that the same key is used for both encryption and decryption. The sender and receiver of the encrypted data must have access to the same secret key.

• 256 bit size: The 256-bit key length provides a high level of security, with increasing key size increasing the complexity of brute force attacks. Key length corresponds to the number of rounds of encryption applied during creation.

• Block cipher: AES operates on fixed-size data in 128-bit blocks. This structure allows data to be encrypted and decrypted in chunks, making it suitable for wider use.

• Efficient performance: When correctly implemented, AES256 encryption is considered highly secure, offering a balance of security and efficiency.

AES-256 encryption is an effective way to protect data, but its security relies on strong overall security practices, including key management and API authentication. It’s important for businesses to look for API providers that provide a wide range of security measures that support encryption to ensure security.