SSH Communications Security has become part of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Post-Quantum Cryptography Building Block Consortium, operated by the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE). This innovative collaboration paves the way for quantum-safe solutions in the United States and beyond.
The mission of the Consortium is to bring awareness to the issues involved in migrating to post-quantum algorithms and to develop practices to ease migration from current public-key algorithms to replacement algorithms. NIST does not evaluate commercial products under this Consortium and does not endorse any product or service used.
The collaborative research and development agreement CRADA (National cybersecurity centre of excellence migration to post-quantum cryptography building block consortium cooperative research and development agreement) has been officially signed by SSH Communications Security and NIST, solidifying the partnership between the two organisations. The agreement was signed on July 31, 2023, marking the company’s official inclusion in the NIST PQC migration consortium.
NIST PQC Algorithm Competition Yields FIPS Standards for Quantum-Safe Algorithms
In response to the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity against quantum threats, NIST published the first FIPS draft of the preferred PQC algorithms, including CRYSTALS-KYBER and CRYSTALS-DILITHIUM, on August 24, 2023. These algorithms were already selected for standardisation last year and are expected to be finalised in 2024.
SSH Communications Security welcomes the standardisation and is particularly enthusiastic about the wider adoption of CRYSTALS-KYBER Key Encapsulation Mechanism (KEM) and future migration to the preferred PQC signature algorithms.
“The retroactive attacks on key exchange in network communication protocols like TLS, SSH, and IPsec require migration to PQC urgently in a safe manner to protect the key agreement from the quantum threat,” says SSH Fellow Ms. Suvi Lampila. “We are pleased to contribute to the NIST PQC migration effort and also looking forward to the next step of migrating to quantum-safe signature algorithms that require even more industry-wide effort,” Lampila concludes.
Pioneering Quantum-Safe Solutions
With a rich heritage spanning more than 28 years in encryption expertise, SSH Communications Security’s participation in the NIST PQC migration consortium marks an important milestone in its journey toward securing the digital landscape against quantum threats.
“I am immensely proud that SSH Communications Security stands at the forefront of quantum-safe solutions, safeguarding the future of cybersecurity. Our experts are not only engaged in pioneering quantum computing-resistant solutions but are also driving the search for the most robust algorithms to ensure the security of our customers and society’s communications once again. As we join hands with the NIST PQC Migration Consortium, we embark on a journey to shape a quantum-secure world for generations to come,” finishes Teemu Tunkelo, CEO of SSH Communications Security.
