cryptographic service provider (CSP)

The code that performs authentication, encoding, and encryption services that Windows-based applications access through the CryptoAPI. A CSP is responsible for creating keys, destroying them, and using them to perform a variety of cryptographic operations. Each CSP provides a different implementation of the CryptoAPI. Some provide stronger cryptographic algorithms, while others contain hardware components, such as smart cards.

Updated On: 04.04.01