Much of the information being sent on the NII will be sensitive. At the same time, most of its users will be quite unsophisticated in the complexities of the networks they access, or in the problems that can arise from intercepted communications. Protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of the information infrastructure is extremely important to economic stability and national security. A very important part of the solution is cryptography. It has long been the military solution to the problem of transmitting sensitive information over insecure channels.
Cryptography can help prevent penetration from the outside.
It can protect the privacy of users of the system so that only authorized participants can comprehend communications. It can ensure integrity of communications. It can increase assurance that received messages are genuine. Because cryptography for confidentiality purposes has the potential to interfere with foreign intelligence gathering, it is often subject to stringent export controls. Integrity is a security service that permits a user to detect whether information has been tampered with during transmission or while in storage.