Cryptographic accelerator

A cryptographic accelerator is a device that performs processor-intensive decrypting/encrypting while freeing the host CPU to perform other tasks. In general cryptographic accelerator is a co-processor. Common use for cryptographic accelerator is a webserver protecting data transmitted through insecure network with SSL (SSL acceleration). Physically cryptographic accelerator is usually an add-on card that fits into computers expansion slot like PCI or PCIe.