TLS-DHE-PSK-WITH-AES-256-CCM Cipher Suite

Key Exchange Mechanism

Diffie Hellman Ephemeral - DHE

Grade - B

Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral (DHE) in cipher suites refers to a key exchange method where each session generates temporary, one-time-use (ephemeral) keys. This ensures forward secrecy, meaning if one session’s key is compromised, past and future sessions remain secure. DHE provides an added layer of protection against decryption by ensuring keys are used briefly and then discarded, enhancing security in TLS communications.

Authentication

Pre-Shared Key - PSK

Grade - A

PSK (Pre-Shared Key) cipher suites are used for authentication in secure communication protocols like TLS. They allow parties to establish a shared secret beforehand, ensuring confidentiality and integrity of data exchanges without the overhead of public key infrastructure (PKI), suitable for constrained environments or specific security requirements.

Cipher

Advanced Encryption Standard - AES

Grade - A

AES should be used in cipher suites because it offers strong security with efficient performance, large block size (128 bits), and resistance to known attacks. Its widespread adoption and thorough analysis by the cryptographic community ensure reliability and robustness for encrypting sensitive data.

Cipher Mode

Counter with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code - CCM

Grade - A

CCM (Counter with CBC-MAC) is a mode of operation for cryptographic block ciphers, providing both encryption and authentication. Used in cipher suites, CCM ensures data confidentiality and integrity by combining the Counter (CTR) mode for encryption with the Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code (CBC-MAC) for authentication. This dual functionality makes CCM highly efficient and secure, suitable for resource-constrained environments like IoT and wireless networks. By integrating CCM, cipher suites offer robust protection against unauthorized access and tampering, enhancing overall security in secure communications.