A System-on-Chip (SoC) performs secure communication operations. The SoC may include a peripheral interface configured to communicate with a host system. The SoC may also include a network interface configured to receive network packets in a secure communication session. The SoC may further include a processor configured to execute an Operating System (OS) software and a secure communication software stack to process at least one received network packet in the secure communication session. In addition, the SoC may include a secure communication engine configured to perform cryptographic operations and generate at least one decrypted packet in the secure communication session. The at least one decrypted packet may be provided to the host system via the peripheral interface.