As quantum computers rapidly advance, U.S.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) publishes new
algorithms developed by IBM, in collaboration with industry
partners, to secure data against potential quantum attacks
YORKTOWN
HEIGHTS, N.Y., Aug. 13,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Two IBM-developed
algorithms (NYSE: IBM) have been officially formalized
within the world's first three post-quantum cryptography standards,
which were published today by the U.S. Department of
Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST).
The standards include three post-quantum cryptographic
algorithms: two of them, ML-KEM (originally known as
CRYSTALS-Kyber) and ML-DSA (originally CRYSTALS-Dilithium) were
developed by IBM researchers in collaboration with several industry
and academic partners. The third published algorithm, SLH-DSA
(initially submitted as SPHINCS+) was co-developed by a researcher
who has since joined IBM. Additionally, a fourth IBM-developed
algorithm, FN-DSA (originally called FALCON), has been selected for
future standardization.
The official publication of these algorithms marks a crucial
milestone to advancing the protection of the world's encrypted data
from cyberattacks that could be attempted through the unique power
of quantum computers, which are rapidly progressing to
cryptographic relevancy. This is the point at which quantum
computers will harness enough computational power to break the
encryption standards underlying most of the world's data and
infrastructure today.
"IBM's mission in quantum computing is two-fold: to bring useful
quantum computing to the world and to make the world quantum-safe.
We are excited about the incredible progress we have made with
today's quantum computers, which are being used across global
industries to explore problems as we push towards fully
error-corrected systems," said Jay
Gambetta, Vice President, IBM Quantum. "However, we
understand these advancements could herald an upheaval in the
security of our most sensitive data and systems. NIST's publication
of the world's first three post-quantum cryptography standards
marks a significant step in efforts to build a quantum-safe future
alongside quantum computing."
As an entirely new branch of computing, quantum computers are
quickly accelerating to useful and large-scale systems, as
evidenced by the hardware and software milestones achieved and
planned on IBM's Quantum Development Roadmap. For example, IBM
projects it will deliver its first error-corrected quantum system
by 2029. This system is anticipated to run hundreds of millions of
quantum operations to return accurate results for complex and
valuable problems that are currently inaccessible to classical
computers. Looking further into the future, IBM's roadmap includes
plans to expand this system to run upwards of one billion quantum
operations by 2033. As IBM builds towards these goals, the company
has already equipped experts across healthcare and life sciences;
finance; materials development; logistics; and other fields
with utility-scale systems to begin applying and scaling
their most pressing challenges to quantum computers as they
advance.
However, the advent of more powerful quantum computers could
carry risks to today's cybersecurity protocols. As their levels of
speed and error correction abilities grow, they are also likely to
encompass the ability to break today's most used cryptographic
schemes, such as RSA, which has long protected global data.
Beginning with work started several decades ago, IBM's team of the
world's foremost cryptographic experts continue to lead the
industry in the development of algorithms to protect data against
future threats, which are now positioned to eventually replace
today's encryption schemes.
NIST's newly published standards are designed to safeguard data
exchanged across public networks, as well as for digital signatures
for identity authentication. Now formalized, they will set the
standard as the blueprints for governments and industries worldwide
to begin adopting post-quantum cybersecurity strategies.
In 2016, NIST asked cryptographers worldwide to develop and
submit new, quantum-safe cryptographic schemes to be considered for
future standardization. In 2022, four encryption algorithms were
selected for further evaluation from 69 submissions chosen for
review: CRYSTALS-Kyber, CRYSTALS-Dilithium, Falcon, and
SPHINCS+.
In addition to continued evaluations to publish Falcon as the
fourth official standard, NIST is continuing to identify and
evaluate additional algorithms to diversify its toolkit of
post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, including several others
developed by IBM researchers. IBM cryptographers are among those
pioneering the expansion of these tools, including three newly
submitted digital signatures schemes that have already been
accepted for consideration by NIST and are undergoing the initial
round of evaluation.
Toward its mission to make the world quantum-safe, IBM continues
to integrate post-quantum cryptography into many of its own
products, such as IBM z16 and IBM Cloud. In 2023, the company
unveiled the IBM Quantum Safe roadmap, a three-step blueprint to
chart the milestones towards increasingly advanced quantum-safe
technology, and defined by phases of discovery, observation, and
transformation. Alongside this roadmap, the company also
introduced IBM Quantum Safe technology and IBM Quantum
Safe Transformation Services to support clients in their journeys
to becoming quantum safe. These technologies include the
introduction of Cryptography Bill of Materials (CBOM), a new
standard to capture and exchange information about cryptographic
assets in software and systems.
For more information about the IBM Quantum Safe technology and
services, visit: https://www.ibm.com/quantum/quantum-safe.
About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI,
and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175
countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline
business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in
their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities
in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services,
telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud
platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital
transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's
breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing,
industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and
flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's
long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility,
inclusivity and service. Visit ibm.com for more
information.
Media contacts:
Erin Angelini, IBM
edlehr@us.ibm.com
Chris Nay, IBM
cnay@us.ibm.com
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