What does the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) allow for?

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a widely recognized symmetric encryption standard that provides a robust framework for securely encrypting data. One of its key features is the flexibility in key lengths. AES supports key sizes of 128, 192, and 256 bits, which correspond to different levels of security. The use of longer keys generally provides increased security against brute-force attacks. This allows organizations to choose an appropriate level of encryption strength based on their security requirements and the sensitivity of the data being protected.

In contrast, other options do not accurately describe the capabilities or purposes of AES. For instance, while AES can be used as part of secure file sharing processes, it does not solely serve as a method for file sharing itself. Additionally, AES is not limited to encrypting only text-based documents; it can encrypt any type of binary data. Lastly, while AES is involved in the encryption process, it does not directly validate digital signatures. Digital signature validation typically involves different cryptographic techniques that operate alongside AES rather than being a function of it.