AES: Advanced Encryption Standard in Cybersecurity

Cryptography
ByDecipherU Editorial
How is it pronounced?
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AES stands for Advanced Encryption Standard. AES is a symmetric block cipher adopted by the U.S. government as the standard for encrypting classified data. It supports 128-, 192-, and 256-bit key lengths.

How AES Is Used in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity teams use AES to encrypt data at rest on servers, databases, and endpoints. Security engineers select AES-256 for disk encryption, VPN tunnels, and TLS cipher suites. GRC analysts verify AES usage during compliance audits for standards like PCI DSS and HIPAA.

Read the full glossary entry: AES in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Roles That Work with AES

Related Cybersecurity Acronyms

Frequently asked questions

What does AES stand for?

AES stands for Advanced Encryption Standard. AES is a symmetric block cipher adopted by the U.S. government as the standard for encrypting classified data. It supports 128-, 192-, and 256-bit key lengths.

What is AES used for in cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity teams use AES to encrypt data at rest on servers, databases, and endpoints. Security engineers select AES-256 for disk encryption, VPN tunnels, and TLS cipher suites. GRC analysts verify AES usage during compliance audits for standards like PCI DSS and HIPAA.

Last verified: April 2026?Report an inaccuracy