Red / black concept

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Red / black box

The red / black concept (dt. Red / black concept ) describes a secure foreclosure in cryptographic environments between the unencrypted ( plain text ) sensitive or classified information ( red signal / red signals) from the encrypted information even cipher called ( black signal / black signals).

In NSA jargon, encryption devices are often called "blackers" because they convert red (unencrypted) data into black (encrypted) signals. The TEMPEST standard in NSTISSAM Tempest / 2-95 prescribes a minimum shielding or a physical minimum distance between cables or hardware for red and black signals.

Different organizations have different requirements for separating red and black fiber optic cables. The Red / Black terminology is also used in the field of cryptographic keys :

  • Black keys for their part are encrypted with a Key Encryption Key (KEK) and are therefore secure.
  • Red keys are not encrypted and must therefore be viewed as highly sensitive material.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ JM McConnell: NSTISSAM TEMPEST / 2-95 . December 12, 1995. Archived from the original on April 8, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2007.
  2. ^ Tom Clark: Designing Storage Area Networks . Addison-Wesley Professional, 2003, ISBN 0-321-13650-0 .