What is the advantage of hardware encryption over software encryption?

Question

In LTE, if a NAS packet is going to be sent, the encryption is followed by integrity protection in NAS layer, but in RRC/PDCP layer, When RRC messages are being sent, they are integrity protected first and then encrypted before being sent, unlike NAS messages were. Why the integrity and encryption protection order is different in NAS and AS layer?

Answer 1

Here are the difference between Hardware-Based and Software-Based Encryption. Hope you will find the advantage over the two.

Hardware-Based Encryption

1. Uses a dedicated processor physically located on the encrypted drive
2. Processor contains a random number generator to generate an encryption key, which the user’s password will unlock
3. Increased performance by off-loading encryption from the host system
4. Safeguard keys and critical security parameters within crypto-hardware
5. Authentication takes place on the hardware
6. Cost-effective in medium and larger application environments, easily scalable
7. Encryption is tied to a specific device, so encryption is “always on”
8. Does not require any type of driver installation or software installation on the host PC
9. Protects against the most common attacks, such as cold boot attacks, malicious code and brute force attacks

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Software-Based Encryption

1. Shares computers resources to encrypt data with other programs on the computer – Only as safe as your computer
2. Uses the user’s password as the encryption key that scrambles data
3. Can require software updates
4. Susceptible to brute force attacks, computer tries to limit the number of decryption attempts but hackers can access the computer’s memory and reset the attempt counter
5. Cost-effective in small application environments
6. Can be implemented on all types of media