A method, apparatus, and system for assigning the execution of a cryptography and/or compression operation on a data segment to either a central processing unit (CPU) or a hardware cryptography/compression accelerator is disclosed. In particular, a data segment on which a cryptography and/or compression operation is to be executed is received. Status information relating to a CPU and a hardware cryptography/compression accelerator is determined. Whether the operation is to be executed on the CPU or on the hardware accelerator is determined based at least in part on the status information. In response to determining that the operation is to be executed on the CPU, the data segment is forwarded to the CPU for execution of the operation. On the other hand, in response to determining that the operation is to be executed on the hardware accelerator, the data segment is forwarded to the hardware accelerator for execution of the operation.