cryptoperiod

The time span during which a particular key value is authorized to be used in a cryptographic system. (See: key management.)

Usage: This term is long-established in COMPUSEC usage. In the context of certificates and public keys, "key lifetime" and "validity period" are often used instead.

Tutorial: A cryptoperiod is usually stated in terms of calendar or clock time, but sometimes is stated in terms of the maximum amount of data permitted to be processed by a cryptographic algorithm using the key. Specifying a cryptoperiod involves a tradeoff between the cost of rekeying and the risk of successful cryptoanalysis.