Verifying data integrity and authenticating messages

CCA provides methods to verify the integrity of transmitted messages and stored data

The methods provided are:

Message authentication code (MAC)
Hash functions, including Modification Detection Code (MDC) processing and one-way hash generation

Note: You can also use digital signatures (see Using digital signatures) to authenticate messages.

The choice of verb depends on the security requirements of the environment in which you are operating. If you need to ensure the authenticity of the sender as well as the integrity of the data and both the sender and receiver can share a secret key, consider Message Authentication Code processing. If you need to ensure the integrity of transmitted data in an environment where it is not possible for the sender and the receiver to share a secret cryptographic key, consider hashing functions.