Contents

Introduction to the register; ISO/IEC 9979; Summary of entries in register; How to get an algorithm added to the register; Acknowledgements; Footnotes

Introduction to the register

These pages no longer have any official status, and are displayed here for historical purposes only. The standard (ISO/IEC 9979) under whose authority these pages were maintained was withdrawn on 9th February 2006, and hence these pages lost their official status as of that date. The decision to start the withdrawal process is recorded in a document produced in October 2004 (see SC27 N4261rev1), in which ISO/IEC JTC1 SC27 recommended that ISO/IEC 9979 be withdrawn. This reflects the fact that the register was rendered redundant by the publication of the four-part international standard on encryption, ISO/IEC 18033.

The ISO/IEC Register of cryptographic algorithms serves as a common reference point for the identification of cryptographic algorithms by a unique name. The register is also a repository of basic parameters identified with the register entry. The principal purpose of the register is to enable entities to identify and negotiate an agreed cryptographic algorithm.

International Standard ISO/IEC 9979, produced and maintained by ISO/IEC JTC1/SC27, specifies the procedures for the registering of cryptographic algorithms and the form of register entries.

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ISO/IEC 9979 (2nd edition, 1999)

This standard describes the role of the Registration Authority responsible for the maintenance of the ISO Register and the publishing of Register entries.

This standard also defines the three types of cryptographic algorithm to be registered:

• algorithms in which the complete description of the process accompanies the registration entry;
• algorithms in which the complete description of the process is defined in an ISO document, or a standard maintained by a Member Body of ISO or by a liaison organisation;
• algorithms in which the complete description is not fully defined (or not defined at all).

The procedures for registration are presented: covering the submission of new register entries, responsibilities of the submitter, and submissions for the modifications or deletions. This standard defines the general contents of the register: the information that the submitter must supply that is mandatory and information that is optional. It also specifies that exact form of the Register entries, with examples. Finally the standard provides a definition of a cryptographic algorithm for the purposes of registration.

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Summary of entries in register

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How to get an algorithm added to the register

The register of cryptographic algorithms is kept on behalf of the International Standards Organisation by the:

Information Security Group (ISG)
Royal Holloway
University of London
Egham
Surrey TW20 0EX
United Kingdom

Records are kept in accordance with ISO/IEC 9979 under the terms of resolution 44 of the 13th ISO/IEC JTC1 SC27 plenary meeting held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, October 22-24, 2001.

ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 27 thanks the UK National Body and Royal Holloway College (University of London) for their very kind offer to provide the register of cryptographic algorithms based on IS 9979. SC 27 gratefully accepts this offer. SC 27 requests ISO/IEC JTC 1 to initiate the appropriate actions.

Entries for registration should be submitted in free-form text, under the headings set out in ISO/IEC 9979, Section 9, Sub-sections 9.2 to 9.13. Submission of new entries may, in accordance with ISO/IEC 9979, only be made by an ISO member body, an ISO technical committee or a liaison organisation.

The Information Security Group of Royal Holloway, University of London (ISG) has not evaluated or made any judgement of the quality of protection provided by the registered algorithms. Registration of an algorithm does not imply that the algorithm is an ISO standard.

For further information, including copies of the entry for an individual algorithm as submitted by the sponsoring ISO Member Body or liaison organisation, please contact:

Professor Chris Mitchell
Information Security Group
Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham
Surrey TW20 0EX
United Kingdom

Tel: +44-1784-443423
Fax: +44-1784-430766

E-mail: me@chrismitchell.net

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Acknowledgements

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Footnotes

The ISO register of algorithms web pages are hosted by the Information Security Group of Royal Holloway, University of London. Please send any comments, queries or corrections to me@chrismitchell.net. This page was most recently changed on 8th January 2013.