Crypto Quantique, a provider of quantum-driven security for the IoT, has upgraded its QuarkLink IoT device security platform with a hybrid post-quantum cryptographic algorithm.

QuarkLink is an integrated, scalable, cloud-based software platform that reduces the time and expense of implementing necessary security functions in embedded IoT devices and industrial PCs by up to ten times. It integrates client libraries for popular MCU families, supports Linux distributions in industrial PCs and manages device identities.

It also manages security keys, digital certificates and public key infrastructure (PKI), and supports secure boot and firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) updates.

The hybrid key encapsulation mechanism adopted by QuarkLink is X25519Kyber768Draft00. This combines the classical elliptic curve Diffie-Hellman key exchange X25519 with the post-quantum secure algorithm Kyber (ML-KEM). This hybrid approach provides immediate security against classical attacks and future protection against quantum computer-based threats. It also ensures protection against store-now and decrypt-later attacks in which cyber criminals collect and store encrypted data to decrypt it in the future when more advanced capabilities become available.

QuarkLink hybrid-PQC is available for MPUs running Embedded Linux now and support for MCUs will become available early next year.

“This development is a further demonstration of Crypto Quantique’s technology leadership in IoT device security,” said Shahram Mossayebi, Crypto Quantique’s CEO. “Companies adopting the QuarkLink platform today are not only able to save substantial time and cost in their embedded development work but can achieve quantum-resilient security against current and future attacks.”

Crypto Quantique (cryptoquantique.com) is a software and IP company creating end-to-end IoT security that can be seamlessly integrated from chip design to cloud connectivity. It has partnerships with major semiconductor companies including ST Microelectronics, Microchip and Renesas and OEMs such as Würth Elektronik. Crypto Quantique is headquartered in London, and has offices in the USA, Europe and Taiwan.