In this lesson,
we will learn about Cryptographic Blockers.
Cryptographic blockers are obstacles or limitations
that hinder or delay the implementation
and effectiveness of encryption techniques.
Cryptographic blockers should be assessed
with a discussion of performance versus security.
Performance versus security refers to the trade off
between the speed and efficiency of cryptographic processes
and the level of security they provide.
Let's learn more
about cryptographic performance versus security.
When considering cryptographic performance versus security,
it's important to understand
that the trade off involves choosing
between the computational speed of cryptographic algorithms
and the strength of the security they provide.
Stronger encryption algorithms,
such as those with longer key lengths,
or more complex cryptographic functions
offer higher security,
but at the cost of increased computational overhead.
This additional overhead can slow down processing times,
impacting the efficiency of production systems
that rely on these cryptographic operations.
Take the advanced encryption standard
with a 256-bit key, or AES-256, as an example.
AES-256 is one of
the most secure encryption standards available,
using a long key length
that makes it extremely resistant to brute force attacks.
However, this level of security
requires significant computational resources,
as the algorithm performs multiple rounds of substitution,
permutation, and mixing operations to encrypt the data.
Each round increases security,
but also adds processing time, which can be a bottleneck
in systems that require rapid data processing,
such as high-frequency trading platforms
or large-scale services.
In contrast, a simpler algorithm like AES-128
offers faster performance due to fewer rounds of processing
and a shorter key length, but it provides less security.
So while AES-128 is still considered secure
against most attacks,
it does not offer the same level of protection
against future threats, such as those posed
by the advancements in quantum computing.
So the decision between using AES-256 and AES-128
often hinges on the required security level
and acceptable performance impact,
especially in environments
where data confidentiality is critical,
such as military communications or financial transactions.
Another performance versus security consideration
is the impact on latency and bandwidth.
Algorithms that require heavy computation
can introduce latency, slowing down the time it takes
for data to be securely processed and transmitted.
For example, transport layer security, or TLS,
which is used to secure web traffic,
can be configured with different cryptographic suites
that balance performance and security.
Using more secure configurations
like those involving elliptic curve cryptography, or ECC,
with longer key sizes enhances security,
but can delay page loading times,
impacting user experience.
Organizations often mitigate these performance impacts
by using hardware acceleration
such as a dedicated cryptographic processor,
or by offloading complex cryptographic tasks
to specialized hardware security modules.
These solutions can significantly improve
the performance of strong encryption algorithms
without sacrificing security,
making it the best of both worlds,
and making it feasible
to use robust encryption in high-performance environments.
Ultimately, the decision relies
on matching the cryptographic strength
to the acceptable level of risk,
ensuring that performance remains acceptable,
without compromising the integrity
and confidentiality of data.
For critical applications, the emphasis
is usually on maintaining the highest possible security,
even if it means investing in more powerful hardware
or accepting slower processing times.
So remember, cryptographic blockers
are challenges that impact the implementation
and effectiveness of encryption techniques,
often involving a trade off
between performance and security.
Performance versus security is about balancing
the speed and efficiency of cryptographic algorithms
with the level of protection they provide.
Stronger encryption offers higher security,
but requires more computational resources,
which can slow down processing times.
This trade off is an important factor to consider
when designing systems
where the goal is to find the right balance,
ensuring that encryption is robust enough to protect data
without excessively
and unnecessarily hindering system performance.