Examples are disclosed for exchanging a key between an input/output device for network device and a first processing element operating on the network device. Data having a destination associated with the first processing element may be received by the input/output device. The exchanged key may be used to encrypt the received data. The encrypted data may then be sent to a buffer maintained at least in part in a memory for the network device. The memory may be arranged to enable sharing of the buffer with at least a second processing element operating on the network device. Examples are also disclosed for the processing element to receive an indication of the storing of the encrypted data in the buffer. The processing element may then obtain the encrypted data from the buffer and decrypt the data using the exchanged key.