Cryptography - Business Value Behind the Myth

There are many misconceptions about the role cryptography plays in the world of information security. The purpose of this paper is to help information technology professionals make informed decisions about using cryptographic solutions to secure electronic business transactions. The guidance contained in this paper is organized into three main areas of the cryptographic solution life cycle. These three areas can be described as solution discovery, solution integration and solution maintenance. The following provides a consistent approach to cost justify the use of cryptographic security solutions in business applications. Some basic understanding of encryption and cryptography is assumed.