With the scope and frequency of attacks on valuable corporate data growing enormously in recent years, a solid understanding of cryptography is essential for computer/network security practitioners, systems designers, applications developers, and researchers. This timely book delivers the hands-on knowledge professionals need, offering comprehensive coverage on the latest and most-important standardized cryptographic techniques to help them protect their data and computing resources to the fullest. Rather than bogging professionals down with theory like other books on the market, this unique resource describes cryptography from an end-user perspective, presenting in-depth, highly practical comparisons of standards and techniques. Moreover, practitioners learn how to select standardized techniques that are most suitable for their specific needs.