Citrix Systems announced it has optimized Citrix® NetScaler® MPX to support the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) recommendation to switch to 2048-bit RSA keys, which are used to secure data on the web.  NIST issued Publication 800-57, which contains guidelines to move from the current standard 1024-bit RSA keys to 2048-bit RSA keys by the end of 2010. 2048-bit keys are a million times more computationally difficult to compromise than 1024-bit keys and provide web applications and websites greater security, protecting customer transactions and data.

The increased security offered by 2048-bit RSA keys, however, also places much greater demands on existing secure sockets layer (SSL) processing infrastructure. To equal the performance for 1024-bit RSA keys requires an order of magnitude increase in SSL infrastructure.  In preparation for customers making this shift, Citrix has significantly optimized the performance of its NetScaler MPX product line to meet the demands of 2048-bit RSA keys. Citrix NetScaler is the first application delivery controller to increase SSL performance for 2048-bit RSA keys.  By delivering a 5x increase in SSL Transactions Per Second (TPS), Citrix NetScaler is providing its customers with a solution that significantly reduces the additional infrastructure investment required to support 2048-bit RSA keys.