Individuals and business are demanding seamless webs of communications networks through which information can flow in a free and secure manner. Secure world-wide communications are critically important as intruders, criminals, competitors, and other unauthorized parties find increasingly sophisticated tools to violate the privacy and security of communications.
Encryption is currently the most appropriate means to ensure security.
To insure interoperability of networks, there must be internationally accepted means for achieving compatibility of the different security techniques. A variety of cryptographic methods may be needed to adequately fulfill different protection requirements. Users should be free, within national constraints, to determine the type and level of protection needed for specific information and to select and implement cryptographic methods that offer the best trade off between security levels and cost. An internationally accepted and comprehensive security policy is essential and needed urgently for users to operate in a global marketplace. There is considerable support for the development of international policies on this subject and many areas of common agreement.