| name | implementing-aes-encryption-for-data-at-rest |
| description | Use when AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a symmetric block cipher standardized by NIST (FIPS 197) used to protect classified and sensitive data. This skill covers implementing AES-256 encryption in GCM m |
| domain | cybersecurity |
| subdomain | cryptography |
| tags | ["cryptography","encryption","aes","data-at-rest","symmetric-encryption"] |
| version | 1.0 |
| author | oyi77 |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| nist_csf | ["PR.DS-01","PR.DS-02","PR.DS-10"] |
Implementing AES Encryption for Data at Rest
Overview
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a symmetric block cipher standardized by NIST (FIPS 197) used to protect classified and sensitive data. This skill covers implementing AES-256 encryption in GCM mode for encrypting files and data stores at rest, including proper key derivation, IV/nonce management, and authenticated encryption.
When to Use
Trigger phrases:
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"implementing aes encryption for data at rest"
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"AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a symmetric block cipher standardized by N"
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When deploying or configuring implementing aes encryption for data at rest capabilities in your environment
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When establishing security controls aligned to compliance requirements
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When building or improving security architecture for this domain
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When conducting security assessments that require this implementation
Prerequisites
- Familiarity with cryptography concepts and tools
- Access to a test or lab environment for safe execution
- Python 3.8+ with required dependencies installed
- Appropriate authorization for any testing activities
Objectives
- Implement AES-256-GCM encryption and decryption for files
- Derive encryption keys from passwords using PBKDF2 and Argon2
- Manage initialization vectors (IVs) and nonces securely
- Encrypt and decrypt entire directory trees
- Implement authenticated encryption to detect tampering
- Handle large files with streaming encryption
Key Concepts
This section covers key concepts for implementing aes encryption for data at rest.
- Ensure all prerequisites are met before proceeding
- Follow the documented workflow steps in sequence
- Record results and any anomalies encountered during this phase
AES Modes of Operation
| Mode | Authentication | Parallelizable | Use Case |
|---|
| GCM | Yes (AEAD) | Yes | Network data, file encryption |
| CBC | No | Decrypt only | Legacy systems, disk encryption |
| CTR | No | Yes | Streaming encryption |
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