Asymmetric Encryption

PCIComplianceHub · Last updated 22 September 2026

Encryption using a matched pair of keys: a public key that can be shared freely and a private key that must be protected. Data encrypted with one can be decrypted only with the other, which is what allows both confidential exchange and digital signatures. Also known as public key cryptography. It is far slower than symmetric encryption, so in practice it is used to establish or protect a symmetric key, which then does the bulk of the work. This is how TLS operates.