P802.1AEef Ascon Cipher Suite
Full title: IEEE Standard for Local and metropolitan area networks–Media Access Control (MAC) Security – Amendment 5: Ascon Cipher Suite
This amendment specifies optional use of a MACsec Ascon Cipher Suite based on the NIST SP 800-232 specification of the symmetric-key Ascon-AEAD128 (authenticated encryption with associated data) scheme.
IEEE Std 802.1AE limits the Cipher Suites used by fully conformant implementations to those specified in the standard, in the interests of interoperability and quality. The Ascon Cipher Suite addresses communication security requirements of resource-constrained systems such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, embedded systems, and low-powered sensors, by supporting frame and packet data integrity, confidentiality, and origin authenticity.
→IEEE Security Task Group projects and related standards.
Current Status
| Status | Working Group Recirculation Ballot |
| Current Draft |
P802.1AEef/D1.2 (3 June 2026) |
| PAR |
Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks– Media Access Control (MAC) Security – Amendment 5: Ascon Cipher Suite PAR approved 10 December 2025, expires 31 Dec 2029 |
| Editor | Mick Seaman |
Archive
| Date | Document |
|---|---|
| 3 June 2026 | P802.1AEef Draft 1.2 |
| 5 May 2026 | P802.1AEef Draft 1.1 |
| 1 April 2026 | P802.1AEef Draft 1.0 |
| 8 February 2026 | P802.1AEef Draft 0.3 |
| 11 February 2026 | P802.1AEef/D0.1 Task Group Ballot disposition of comments |
| 10 December 2025 | P802.1AEef Draft 0.1 |