Patent ID: 8250625

Claim:
A method for reducing communication system downtime when enabling cryptographic operation of a cryptographic system of the communication system upon receipt of a command to enable cryptographic communication, the cryptographic system including a first cryptographic device coupled to a plurality of second cryptographic devices via a communication network of the communication system, the method comprising the steps of: causing a pass-through mode of the first cryptographic device and the plurality of second cryptographic devices to be suspended; the first cryptographic device sequentially determining a readiness state of each of the plurality of second cryptographic devices, wherein a first readiness state indicates said first cryptographic device or one of said plurality of second cryptographic devices is able to participate in synchronized cryptographic communications and a second readiness state indicates said first cryptographic device or one of said plurality of second cryptographic devices is not able to participate in synchronized cryptographic communications; and causing the first cryptographic device and each of the plurality of second cryptographic devices to synchronously transition from the pass-through mode to a cryptographic mode if each of the plurality of second cryptographic devices is determined to have a first readiness state, wherein the pass-through mode renders said first cryptographic device and one of said plurality of second cryptographic devices transparent to the communications network, and the cryptographic mode is a secure mode enabling cryptographic operation on data transmitted via the communication network.