AES and ROI Report

NIST released a report making a best effort to provide the economic return on investment for the development of its AES cryptographic algorithm standard.

The report covers the following topics: background, economic analysis framework, economic impact assessment approach, survey results and findings, economic impact of the AES program, 1996-2017, and overall impact assessment conclusions.

This table from the report details the AES Competition Candidate Algorithms:

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.GCR.18‐017

Here are a few graphics that can help you better understand and explore the structures of the algorithm finalists. 

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), also known by its original name Rijndael

Image (Source): The SubBytes step, one of four stages in a round of AES

Serpent

Image (Source): Serpent's linear mixing stage

MARS

Image (Source): High-level structure of the cipher

RC6

Image (Source): The Feistel function of the RC6 algorithm.

Twofish

Image (Source): The Twofish algorithm

The report also reviews the the laws and regulations that require encryption in the private sector.

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.GCR.18‐017