Network security: Configure encryption types allowed for Kerberos

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Object Access » Network security: Configure encryption types allowed for Kerberos

A brief look at encryption type configuration for Kerberos

Written by Titus Manohar, IT security team, ManageEngine Updated on October 2025

This policy setting allows you to configure Kerberos protocol encryption types. If the encryption type is not selected, the desired encryption will not be allowed. This may lead to compatibility issues with client computers or services and applications. You are allowed to choose multiple encryption types.

The following is a list of encryption types allowed for Kerberos protocol as specified by Microsoft documentation.

Encryption Type Description
DES_CBC_CRC

Data Encryption Standard with Cipher Block Chaining using the Cyclic Redundancy Check function

Supported in Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008. The Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008 R2 and later operating systems do not support DES by default.
DES_CBC_MD5

Data Encryption Standard with Cipher Block Chaining using the Message-Digest algorithm 5 checksum function

Supported in Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008. The Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008 R2 and later operating systems do not support DES by default.
RC4_HMAC_MD5

Rivest Cipher 4 with Hashed Message Authentication Code using the Message-Digest algorithm 5 checksum function

Supported in Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
AES128_HMAC_SHA1

Advanced Encryption Standard in 128 bit cipher block with Hashed Message Authentication Code using the Secure Hash Algorithm (1).

Not supported in Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003. Supported in Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
AES256_HMAC_SHA1

Advanced Encryption Standard in 256 bit cipher block with Hashed Message Authentication Code using the Secure Hash Algorithm (1).

Not supported in Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003. Supported in Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
Future encryption types

Reserved by Microsoft for additional encryption types that might be implemented.

Security aspects:

DES cryptographic suites are no supported on Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7 and Windows 10, machines since stronger options are available. However if you're looking for Kerberos interoperability with non-Windows versions using the Kerberos protocol, DES cryptography can be enabled. This may lead to open attack vectors on computers running Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7 and Windows 10. DES can also be disabled for machines using Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

If you do not select any of the encryption types, computers running Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7 and Windows 10, might have Kerberos authentication failures when connecting with computers running non-Windows versions of the Kerberos protocol.

Selecting an encryption type reduces the effectiveness of encryption for Kerberos authentication but enhances interoperability with computers using older versions of Windows. Contemporary non-Windows implementations of the Kerberos protocol support RC4 and AES 128-bit and AES 256-bit encryption. Most implementations, including the MIT Kerberos protocol and the Windows Kerberos protocol, are deprecating DES encryption.

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