Abstract: Data messages transmitted between computers are encrypted to provide a high level of security, yet the throughput of the encrypted data is minimally affected. In this regard, a first computer encrypts a data portion of a message via a first encryption technique before transmitting the message to a second computer. The first computer also includes information associated with the first encryption technique in a header of the message and encrypts the header via a second encryption technique, which preferably is a highly secure encryption technique. The second computer receives the data message and decrypts the header. The second computer then utilizes the information in the header that is associated with the first encryption technique to decrypt the data portion.