Encryption has been at the root of many everyday technologies we use. In the wake of notable breaches and heightened national security regimes, encryption policy has come to the forefront of policy debates in Washington, DC, and spread across the country. To facilitate an open discussion, Engine and the Charles Koch Institute held three briefings on how encryption actually works. The Nuts and Bolts series of briefings and this booklet summarizing the events aim to fill in the knowledge gaps so that when the decision-makers come to the table, they speak the same language - the language of encryption.