The Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Data Encryption Standard (DES) Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) is the
fastest known implementation of the DES algorithm as defined in the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Publication
46-2. DES is used for protecting data by cryptographic means. The SNL DES ASIC, over 10 times faster than other currently
available DES chips, is a high-speed, fully pipelined implementation offering encryption, decryption, unique key input, or
algorithm bypassing on each clock cycle. Operating beyond 105 MHz on 64 bit words, this device is capable of data throughputs
greater than 6.7 Billion bits per second (tester limited). Simulations predict proper operation up to 9.28 Billion bits per
second. In low frequency, low data rate applications, the ASIC consumes less that one milliwatt of power. The device has features
for passing control signals synchronized to throughput data. Three SNL DES ASICs may be easily cascaded to provide the much
greater security of triple-key, triple-DES.
Acknowledgements The work described in this paper was performed by Sandia National Laboratories (a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia
Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company) under contract number DE-AC04-94AL85000 to the United States Department of Energy.
The authors would like to thank Hans Rodriques de Miranda, formerly of RE/SPEC, for his contribution to this work.