Which scenario demonstrates cryptographic agility?

• A. The speed of encryption operations increases with hardware upgrades.
• B. The practice of using a single algorithm across all systems without any plan to change.
• C. The ability to switch cryptographic primitives with minimal impact.
• D. The process of securely disposing of old keys.

Answer: (D)

Cryptographic agility means you can swap cryptographic primitives or algorithms with minimal disruption to the system. This ability relies on modular design, interoperable interfaces, and separation of crypto logic from business logic, so you can upgrade or replace algorithms without rewriting applications or reshaping data formats. When a system can switch cryptographic primitives with minimal impact, you can adopt stronger algorithms, deprecate weaker ones, and respond quickly to new security requirements or discovered weaknesses, which is especially important as standards evolve or new threats emerge. The scenario that demonstrates this agility is the capacity to switch primitives with minimal impact, because it shows the system can adapt its cryptographic choices without cascading changes. In contrast, relying on hardware upgrades to speed up encryption improves performance but not the ability to change algorithms; using a single algorithm across all systems shows rigidity rather than flexibility; and securely disposing of old keys is about lifecycle management rather than the ease of changing cryptographic methods. Cryptographic agility is the engine that lets you evolve your security posture smoothly over time.