A symmetric encryption algorithm is best suited for which purpose?

A symmetric encryption algorithm is best suited for protecting large amounts of data because it uses a single key for both encryption and decryption, which allows it to efficiently handle data processing. Symmetric encryption is typically faster than asymmetric encryption due to the simpler mathematical operations involved. This efficiency makes symmetric algorithms, such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), particularly well-suited for encrypting large files or streams of data, as they can perform these operations much more quickly than asymmetric methods.

In contrast, key-exchange scalability is often better suited to asymmetric encryption methods, where different keys can be used for encryption and decryption, allowing for more secure key distribution. Providing hashing capabilities typically involves using hashing algorithms, which are different from encryption and serve to verify data integrity rather than confidentiality. Lastly, implementing non-repudiation is largely a function of asymmetric encryption, as it involves a digital signature process that requires a private key and corresponds to ensuring that a sender cannot deny having sent a message.