ABSTRACT

A cryptographic system is not only needed to protect an stand-alone system, like databases on a PC, operating system, system drivers and programs running on a system, but also it is needed to protect information transmitted between a set of devices, like; router, ATM switches etc [1]. Each one of these applications has unique characteristics and therefore need unique features that cryptography must satisfy. Advanced Encryption Standard (Rijndael) is examined in this paper, concerning software and hardware implementation platforms. This work focuses on the alternative integration approaches of Rijndael suitable for software and hardware applications. It presents the advantages and the trade offs, for alternative approaches, as well as comparison results concerning performance issues. Furthermore this work introduces the design criteria for AES developments in both software and hardware manners.