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ARTICLE
Comparative Cryptographic Architectures and Performance Paradigms in Symmetric Encryption: A Comprehensive Analytical Study of DES, 3DES, and AES with Emphasis on Hardware and Algorithmic Evolution
Issue Vol. 2 No. 01 (2025): Volume 02 Issue 01 --- Section Articles
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Abstract
The evolution of symmetric key cryptography has been fundamentally shaped by the persistent tension between security robustness, computational efficiency, and implementational feasibility across software and hardware platforms. Among the most influential symmetric encryption standards are the Data Encryption Standard (DES), Triple DES (3DES), and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), each representing distinct historical phases, design philosophies, and threat models in cryptographic engineering. This research article presents an exhaustive, theory-driven, and literature-grounded comparative analysis of DES, 3DES, and AES, with particular emphasis on architectural design principles, algorithmic transformations, hardware implementation strategies, and performance implications in modern computing environments. Drawing extensively and exclusively on the provided scholarly corpus, the study situates AES as a paradigmatic shift in cryptographic standardization, while critically examining its predecessors not merely as obsolete artifacts but as foundational frameworks that informed contemporary cryptographic thought (Aleisa, 2015).
The article adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology, synthesizing findings from FPGA-based implementations, VLSI architectures, cryptographic theory, and applied performance evaluations. Rather than relying on mathematical formalism or experimental simulation, the analysis proceeds through deep interpretive reasoning grounded in established literature, enabling a nuanced understanding of encryption efficiency, error propagation, resistance to cryptanalytic attacks, and adaptability to emerging computational paradigms such as cloud infrastructures. Particular attention is paid to AES’s Rijndael structure, its substitution–permutation network, and its superiority over DES and 3DES in terms of security margin and throughput, while also addressing ongoing debates surrounding side-channel vulnerabilities and implementation complexity (Daemen & Rijmen, 2002; Patil et al., 2016).
By integrating historical context, scholarly disagreement, and technological implications, this article contributes a comprehensive academic narrative that bridges classical cryptography and modern secure system design. The findings underscore that while AES currently dominates symmetric encryption practice, its continued relevance depends on implementation-aware design choices and sustained theoretical scrutiny, especially in hardware-constrained and high-throughput environments (Deshpande et al., 2009; Morioka & Satoh, 2004).
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References
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