What is a primary disadvantage of asymmetric encryption?

A primary disadvantage of asymmetric encryption is that it is slower and requires more computing power compared to symmetric encryption. This is primarily due to the complex mathematical algorithms involved in asymmetric encryption, which utilize key pairs—one public and one private. The computational overhead associated with these algorithms makes them inherently slower, especially when processing large volumes of data.

Asymmetric encryption is often used for secure key exchange or small amounts of data, while symmetric encryption, which relies on a single shared key, is more efficient for encrypting larger datasets. However, due to its slower performance and higher resource demands, asymmetric encryption is less practical for scenarios requiring the quick encryption and decryption of large amounts of information.