Errata exists for this version of the document.

Cryptography method that uses a pair of keys, one that is designated the Private Key and kept secret, the other called the Public Key that is generally made available.

Note 1 to entry:  ‘Asymmetric Cryptography, also known as "public-key cryptography". In an Asymmetric Encryption algorithm when an entity “A” requires Confidentiality for data sent to entity “B”, then entity “A” encrypts the data with a Public Key provided by entity “B”. Only entity “B” has the matching Private Key that is needed to decrypt the data. In an asymmetric Digital Signature algorithm when an entity “A” requires message Integrity or to provide Authentication for data sent to entity “B”, entity A uses its Private Key to sign the data. To verify the signature, entity B uses the matching Public Key that entity A has provided. In an asymmetric key agreement algorithm, entity A and entity B each send their own Public Key to the other entity. Then each uses their own Private Key and the other's Public Key to compute the new key value.’ according to IS Glossary.