A system (706, 714) is provided for a network signaling protocol bypass around a cryptographic device (1008, 1108). The system is comprised of a first bypass device (1004-1, 1004-2) configured to parse a GIST signaling transport protocol identifier (960) from a transport layer protocol header (906) of a packet (900). The first bypass device is also configured to communicate the packet to a second bypass device (1006-1, 1006-2) if the GIST signaling transport protocol identifier is a NTLP or NSIS signaling transport protocol identifier. The second bypass device is configured to parse a NSLP protocol identifier (970) from a NSLP layer protocol header (910). The second bypass device is also configured to determine whether the NSLP protocol identifier is equal to a predetermined NSLP protocol identifier. If the NSLP protocol identifier is not equal to the predetermined NSLP protocol identifier, then the packet may be bypassed around the cryptographic device.