home/glossary/Key Escrow

Key Escrow

nounverified·updated May 9, 2026

1. The processes of managing (e.g., generating, storing, transferring, auditing) the two components of a cryptographic key by two key component holders. 2. A key recovery technique for storing knowledge of a cryptographic key, or parts thereof, in the custody of one or more third parties called "escrow agents," so that the key can be recovered and used in specified circumstances.

polysemousMWENISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 2

Senses

NISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 2

A deposit of the private key of a subscriber and other pertinent information pursuant to an escrow agreement or similar contract binding upon the subscriber, the terms of which require one or more agents to hold the subscriber's private key for the benefit of the subscriber, an employer, or other party, upon provisions set forth in the agreement.

NISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 2sense 2 pending review

The processes of managing (e.g., generating, storing, transferring, auditing) the two components of a cryptographic key by two key component holders.

Classifications

Entity Type

Process85%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
?unassignedlast reviewed

Sensitivity

Regulated90%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
?unassignedlast reviewed

Information Class

Cui80%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
?unassignedlast reviewed

Variants

plural
Key Escrows
possessive
Key Escrow's
pluralpossessive
Key Escrows'