BI-DIRECTIONAL ENCRYPTION/DECRYPTION DEVICE FOR UNDERLAY AND OVERLAY OPERATIONS

Technologies for bi-directional encryption and decryption for underlay and overlay operations are described. One network device includes multiple ports, a network processing element, a programmable path-selection circuit, and a security IC. The programmable path-selection circuit is configured to operate in a first mode in which first outgoing packets are routed to the security integrated circuit to be encrypted before sending on one of the ports, and first incoming packets, received on one of the ports, are routed to the security integrated circuit to be decrypted. The programmable path-selection circuit is configured to operate in a second mode in which second incoming packets are routed to the security integrated circuit to be encrypted before processing by the network processing element and route second outgoing packets to the security integrated circuit to be decrypted after processing by the network processing element.