Episode 100 — Encryption Basics: symmetric vs asymmetric and scenario expectations
Encryption appears throughout CloudNetX scenarios as a foundational mechanism for protecting confidentiality and integrity, and this episode clarifies the practical distinction between symmetric and asymmetric cryptography. It defines symmetric encryption as using a shared secret key that is fast and efficient for bulk data, and it defines asymmetric encryption as using a key pair that supports identity, secure key exchange, and trust establishment. The first paragraph focuses on how these methods work together in real systems: asymmetric methods are commonly used to establish a secure session and exchange secrets, while symmetric methods carry the actual data because they are computationally efficient. It also explains why key management is the real challenge, because strong algorithms do not protect data if keys are mishandled, stored insecurely, or left unrotated. The episode frames cryptography as a system of trust and process, not just math.
