What term describes the set of processes and mechanisms which support cryptographic key establishment and maintenance, including replacing older keys with new keys as necessary.

• A. Cryptography
• B. Cryptoperiod
• C. Cryptographic Key Management
• D. CVSS

Answer: (C)

Key management is the set of processes and controls that govern how cryptographic keys are created, stored, distributed, used, rotated, and retired. It covers maintaining keys over time and replacing older keys with new ones when needed to keep cryptographic strength and access control up to date. The concept described in the question centers on overseeing the key lifecycle, not just how encryption works.

Cryptoperiod refers to the actual validity window of a key, not the whole management process. Cryptography is the broader study of encryption techniques, not how keys are managed. CVSS is a vulnerability scoring system and not related to key lifecycle management.