He needs to find the key within the next few months: he would like it within 3 months, but at the limit 12 months. He is prepared to spend whatever it takes. He is asking you for a budget, including the cost justification.
You will be using a brute force cryptanalysis approach with special purpose specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips which can currently check 5 x 108 keys per second. Each chip costs $62 and it is necessary to allow a 50% cost overhead for integrating the ASICs for manufacturing the printed circuit boards, the power supply, cooling etc. How many ASICs will need to be run in parallel to meet the 3 month deadline or the 12 month deadline. How much will the total cost be?
Prepare a memo describing how you might find the key including the number of ASICs and the total cost. Include a discussion of other cryptanalysis techniques that might be applied to reduce the cost and/or the time frame based on other successful attacks.
Attach a spreadsheet detailing the calculations and detailing any assumptions you have made.
