In this paper, instruction set extensions for a reduced instruction set computer processor are presented to improve the software performance of the data encryption standard (DES), the triple DES, the international data encryption algorithm (IDEA), and the advanced encryption standard (AES) algorithms. The most computationally intensive operations of each algorithm are off-loaded to a set of newly defined instructions. The additional hardware required to support these instructions is integrated into the processor's data path. For each of the targeted algorithms, comparisons are presented between traditional software implementations and new implementations that take advantage of the extended instruction set architecture. Results show that the utilization of the proposed instructions significantly reduces program code size, and improves encryption and decryption throughput. Moreover, the additional hardware resources required to support the instruction set extensions increase the total area of the processor by less than 65%. Finally, it will be shown that the throughputs for triple DES, IDEA, and AES are approximately the same when accelerated via instruction set extensions. This allows for seamless and transparent algorithm agility as one algorithm may be easily replaced by another algorithm with minimal performance degradation.

Instruction set extensions for a RISC processor are presented to improve the software performance of the Data Encryption Standard (DES), Triple-DES, the International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA), and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithms. The most computationally intensive operations of each algorithm are off-loaded to a set of newly defined instructions. The additional hardware required to support these instructions is integrated into the processor's datapath. For each of the targeted algorithms, comparisons are presented between traditional software implementations and new implementations that take advantage of the extended instruction set architecture. Results show that utilization of the proposed instructions significantly reduces program code size and improves encryption and decryption throughput. Moreover, the additional hardware resources required to support the instruction set extensions increases the total area of the processor by less than 65%.

Efficient implementation of block ciphers is critical towards achieving both high security and high-speed processing. Numerous block ciphers, including the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), have been proposed and implemented, using a wide and varied range of functional operations. Existing microp rocessor architectures do not provide this broad range of support. However, the advent of intellectual property (IP) processor cores presents the opportunity to augment existing datapaths with instruction set extensions to add acceleration modules in the form of new instructions. We will present a general purpose instruction set extension to a 32-bit SPARC V8 compatible processor core that accelerates the performance of Galois Field fixed field constant multiplication, a core element of the AES algorithm. This extension will be shown to accelerate AES encryption versus pure software implementations at a small hardware cost. This matches the improvement demonstrated in previously proposed AES-specific instruction set extensions while maintaining a generalized implementation format capable of supporting other algorithms that use Galois Field fixed field constant multiplication.

Efficient implementation of block ciphers is critical toward achieving both high security and high-speed processing. Numerous block ciphers have been proposed and implemented, using a wide and varied range of functional operations. Existing architectures such as microcontrollers do not provide this broad range of support. Therefore, we will present a hardware architecture that achieves efficient block cipher implementation while maintaining flexibility through reconfiguration. In an effort to achieve such a hardware architecture, a study of a wide range of block ciphers was undertaken to develop an understanding of the functional requirements of each algorithm. This study led to the development of COBRA, a reconfigurable architecture for the efficient implementation of block ciphers. A detailed discussion of the top-level architecture, interconnection scheme, and underlying elements of the architecture will be provided. System configuration and on-the-fly reconfiguration will be analyzed, and from this analysis, it will be demonstrated that the COBRA architecture satisfies the requirements for achieving efficient implementation of a wide range of block ciphers that meet the 622 Mbps ATM network encryption throughput requirement.

The technical analysis used in determining which of the potential Advanced Encryption Standard candidates was selected as the Advanced Encryption Algorithm includes efficiency testing of both hardware and software implementations of candidate algorithms. Reprogrammable devices such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are highly attractive options for hardware implementations of encryption algorithms, as they provide cryptographic algorithm agility, physical security, and potentially much higher performance than software solutions. This contribution investigates the significance of FPGA implementations of the Advanced Encryption Standard candidate algorithms. Multiple architectural implementation options are explored for each algorithm. A strong focus is placed on high-throughput implementations, which are required to support security for current and future high bandwidth applications. Finally, the implementations of each algorithm will be compared in an effort to determine the most suitable candidate for hardware implementation within commercially available FPGAs.

With the expiration of the Data Encryption Standard (DES) in 1998, the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) development process is well underway. It is hoped that the result of the AES process will be the specification of a new nonclassified encryption algorithm that will have the global acceptance achieved by DES as well as the capability of longterm protection of sensitive information. The technical analysis used in determining which of the potential AES candidates will be selected as the Advanced Encryption Algorithm includes e#ciency testing of both hardware and software implementations of candidate algorithms. Reprogrammable devices such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are highly attractive options for hardware implementations of encryption algorithms as they provide cryptographic algorithm agility, physical security, and potentially much higher performance than software solutions. This contribution investigates the significance of an FPGA implementation of Serpent, one of the Advanced Encryption Standard candidate algorithms. Multiple architecture options of the Serpent algorithm will be explored with a strong focus being placed on a high speed implementation within an FPGA in order to support security for current and future high bandwidth applications. One of the main findings is that Serpent can be implemented with encryption rates beyond 4 Gbit/s on current FPGAs.