Quantum-resistant encryption standards released by ETSI
In a significant leap forward for quantum computing, Microsoft has announced that their Majorana 1 quantum processing unit, unveiled in February 2025, could pave the way for developing quantum computers capable of scaling to a million qubits in 'years, not decades.'
Meanwhile, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has published new quantum-safe encryption standards. These standards are part of a series designed to assist organizations in transitioning to quantum-safe cryptography.
The new ETSI specification includes a scheme called Covercrypt for key encapsulation mechanisms with access control (KEMAC). Covercrypt is designed to be efficient, taking only hundreds of micro-seconds to encapsulate and decapsulate session keys. It is applicable to current threats and future quantum-based attacks, providing organizations with a transition to quantum-safe cryptography.
Covercrypt allows data encryption based on user-attributes, keeping the identities anonymous. This feature is particularly useful as the availability of powerful commercial quantum computers is expected to expose data, connections, and components used by all organizations to potential quantum-based attacks.
Key encapsulation mechanisms, established by Covercrypt, create a shared secret key and transmit it to a receiver securely, preventing unauthorized recovery of information. This is crucial as these mechanisms ensure secure communication even in the face of quantum threats.
The US National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) published the world's first post-quantum cryptography standards in August 2024. The NIST standards include three quantum-safe algorithms, which include a key encapsulation mechanism and digital signatures.
The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) set out a roadmap for organizations to completely migrate their systems, services, and products to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) by 2035 in March 2025. The hybrid Covercrypt encryption system can be easily integrated into existing commercial security products, making it a practical solution for organizations following the NCSC's roadmap.
It's important to note that researchers and institutions working on quantum-safe encryption conventions before Microsoft's February 2025 reveal of Majorana 1 are not explicitly named in the available sources. However, the development of Majorana 1, the first quantum processing unit based on a topological core, is a significant milestone in the field of quantum computing.
The European Standards Organization (ESO), ETSI, is a non-profit body that supports the timely development, ratification, and testing of globally applicable standards for IT systems. ETSI is formally recognized by the European Union, ensuring the credibility and relevance of their standards.
In conclusion, the publication of the new ETSI quantum-safe encryption standards and the announcement of Microsoft's Majorana 1 quantum processing unit mark important steps towards securing data against potential quantum-based attacks. Organizations worldwide are encouraged to consider these developments and start planning their transition to quantum-safe cryptography.
