Methods and apparatus' for performing SSL processing on an IP packet being transmitted onto a network and being received from a network are described. The methods and apparatus' further described performing SSL processing inline which results in a reduced number of transfers over the system bus, reduced utilization of system memory, and a reduced utilization of the system CPU. An IP packet that requires SSL processing enters an acceleration device. SSL processing is performed at the acceleration device without first sending the IP packet to system memory for processing.