Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite

The Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite (CNSA) is a set of cryptographic algorithms promulgated by the National Security Agency as a replacement for NSA Suite B Cryptography algorithms.

It serves as the cryptographic base to protect US National Security Systems information up to the top secret level, while the NSA plans for a transition to quantum-resistant cryptography.

[1][2][3][4][5][6] The suite includes: The CNSA transition is notable for moving RSA from a temporary legacy status, as it appeared in Suite B, to supported status.

This, and the overall delivery and timing of the announcement, in the absence of post-quantum standards, raised considerable speculation about whether NSA had found weaknesses e.g. in elliptic-curve algorithms or others, or was trying to distance itself from an exclusive focus on ECC for non-technical reasons.

[7][8][9] In September 2022, the NSA announced CNSA 2.0, which includes its first recommendations for post-quantum cryptographic algorithms.