Technology Innovation Institute (TII)’s Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) has stated that its Cryptography Research Centre (CRC) has launched the first Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) software library in the UAE.
The library says to advance the cryptographic and security capabilities of the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the broader UAE. International and Emirati researchers at CRC have developed the PQC library, a software library written in the C general purpose programming language that supports a wide variety of computer architectures and operating systems. A corresponding hardware FPGA based implementation has also been developed. The library, designed to guard against attacks by quantum computers, has been already integrated in several secure communication products, explains the agency.
The library is said to be a collection of algorithms to safeguard confidential data and information. With the rise of quantum computers, classic cryptographic algorithms (in particular, public key/asymmetric algorithms) are no longer sufficient to ensure secure data storage and secure digital communication.
Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of the ATRC said, “The United Arab Emirates is now in the same league of countries that possess advanced digital data security capabilities. Our researchers have worked hard to make this revolutionary project a reality. To meet the growing level of sophistication in the world of data, systems and network security, we are currently engaged in many more such ventures for the future. Our researchers are shaping the building blocks of advanced cryptographic and cryptanalytic solutions that enable superior data confidentiality, integrity, authentication, non-repudiation and privacy.”
CRC employs and collaborates with scientists in multiple cryptography fields such as post quantum cryptography, hardware based cryptography, lightweight cryptography, cryptanalysis, cryptographic protocols, and cloud encryption schemes, amongst others. The Centre is also said to be among the few internationally that brings together theoretical and applied cryptographers in a research oriented setting. The cryptographers collaborate on breakthrough research projects that lead to innovative outcomes.
“Quantum computing capabilities are a potential threat to data security. This fact underscores the importance of the launch of the UAE’s first post quantum cryptography library to guard against quantum computer attacks. The first release of the library has already been integrated in several secure communication products with advanced cryptographic protocols. Such a library serves as the foundation of any security application or product in development today that integrates public key cryptography functionality. We will continue to develop the PQC library through incorporating more schemes,” stated Dr Najwa Aaraj, Chief Researcher at the CRC.
