You are viewing this page in an unauthorized frame window. This is a potential security issue, you are being redirected to https://csrc.nist.gov . An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know Here’s how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Search Search CSRC MENU Search Search Projects Publications Expand or Collapse Drafts for Public Comment All Public Drafts Final Pubs FIPS (standards) Special Publications (SP s ) IR (interagency/internal reports) CSWP (cybersecurity white papers) ITL Bulletins Project Descriptions Journal Articles Conference Papers Books Topics Expand or Collapse Security & Privacy Applications Technologies Sectors Laws & Regulations Activities & Products News & Updates Events Glossary About CSRC Expand or Collapse Computer Security Division Cryptographic Technology Software Security Group Hardware Security Group Security Engineering and Risk Management Applied Cybersecurity Division Cybersecurity and Privacy Applications National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Contact Us Information Technology Laboratory Computer Security Resource Center Publications NIST SP 800-227 Recommendations for Key-Encapsulation Mechanisms Share to Facebook Share to X Share to LinkedIn Share ia Email Documentation Topics Date Published: September 2025 Author(s) Gorjan Alagic (NIST) , Elaine Barker (NIST) , Lily Chen (NIST) , Dustin Moody (NIST) , Angela Robinson (NIST) , Hamilton Silberg (NIST) , Noah Waller (NIST) Abstract A key-encapsulation mechanism (KEM) is a set of algorithms that can be used by two parties under certain conditions to securely establish a shared secret key over a public channel. A shared secret key that is established using a KEM can then be used with symmetric-key cryptographic algorithms to perform essential tasks in secure communications, such as encryption and authentication. This document describes the basic definitions, properties, and applications of KEMs. It also provides recommendations for implementing and using KEMs in a secure manner. A key-encapsulation mechanism (KEM) is a set of algorithms that can be used by two parties under certain conditions to securely establish a shared secret key over a public channel. A shared secret key that is established using a KEM can then be used with symmetric-key cryptographic algorithms to... See full abstract A key-encapsulation mechanism (KEM) is a set of algorithms that can be used by two parties under certain conditions to securely establish a shared secret key over a public channel. A shared secret key that is established using a KEM can then be used with symmetric-key cryptographic algorithms to perform essential tasks in secure communications, such as encryption and authentication. This document describes the basic definitions, properties, and applications of KEMs. It also provides recommendations for implementing and using KEMs in a secure manner. Hide full abstract Keywords cryptography ; encryption ; key-encapsulation mechanism ; key establishment ; public-key cryptography Control Families None selected Documentation Publication: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-227 Download URL Supplemental Material: Public comments received (pdf) Related NIST Publications: FIPS 203 Document History: 01/07/25: SP 800-227 (Draft) 09/18/25: SP 800-227 (Final) Topics Security and Privacy key management , post-quantum cryptography HEADQUARTERS 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899 X (link is external) facebook (link is external) linkedin (link is external) instagram (link is external) youtube (link is external) rss govdelivery (link is external) Want updates about CSRC and our publications? Subscribe Contact Us | Our Other Offices Send inquiries to [email protected] Site Privacy Accessibility Privacy Program Copyrights Vulnerability Disclosure No Fear Act Policy FOIA Environmental Policy Scientific Integrity Information Quality Standards Commerce.gov Science.gov USA.gov Vote.gov