< cryptography , standard > (PKCS) A set of standards for public-key cryptography , developed by RSA Data Security, Inc. in cooperation with an informal consortium, originally including Apple , Microsoft , DEC , Lotus , Sun and MIT . The PKCS have been cited by the OSI Implementers' Workshop (OIW) as a method for implementation of OSI standards.
PKCS includes both algorithm -specific and algorithm-independent implementation standards. Many algorithms are supported, including RSA and Diffie-Hellman key exchange, however, only the latter two are specifically detailed. PKCS also defines an algorithm-independent syntax for digital signatures , digital envelopes , and extended digital certificates ; this enables someone implementing any cryptographic algorithm whatsoever to conform to a standard syntax, and thus achieve interoperability.
E-mail: pkcs@rsa.com.
(1999-02-16)