To advance and promote post-quantum cryptography, the Linux Foundation announced the formation of the Post-Quantum Cryptography Alliance (PQCA). The Linux Foundation is the world’s leading home for collaboration on open-source software, hardware, standards, and data.
PQCA brings together industry leaders, researchers, and developers with the goal of tackling cryptographic security challenges posed by quantum computing. Through the creation of high-quality software implementations of standardized algorithms, the PQCA aims to support the adoption of post-quantum cryptography while also contributing to the ongoing development and standardization of new algorithms.
PQCA is supported by founding members such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco, Google, IBM, IntellectEU, Keyfactor, Kudelski IoT, NVIDIA, QuSecure, SandboxAQ, and the University of Waterloo.
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Central hub
A primary objective of the PQCA is to serve as a central hub for organizations and open-source projects seeking reliable libraries and packages to align with the US National Security Agency’s Cybersecurity Advisory regarding the Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite 2.0.
“Given the rapid progress in quantum computing, the importance of robust cryptographic solutions capable of withstanding future quantum-based attacks cannot be overstated,” Linux said in a media advisory.
To achieve its goals, the PQCA will undertake various technical projects, including the development of software for evaluating, prototyping, and deploying new post-quantum algorithms. By offering these software implementations, the alliance aims to facilitate the practical adoption of post-quantum cryptography across diverse industries.
The PQCA’s efforts build upon the groundwork laid by many founding members over the past decade in preparation for the transition to post-quantum cryptography. Several PQCA members have played pivotal roles in the standardization of post-quantum cryptography, including as co-authors of the initial four algorithms selected in the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Project (CRYSTALS-Kyber, CRYSTALS-Dilithium, Falcon, and SPHINCS+).
Among the launch projects of the PQCA is the Open Quantum Safe project, established at the University of Waterloo in 2014, which stands as one of the leading open-source software projects dedicated to post-quantum cryptography worldwide. The PQCA will host the new PQ Code Package Project, focused on developing high-quality, production-ready software implementations of forthcoming post-quantum cryptography standards, beginning with the ML-KEM algorithm.
The PQCA encourages organizations and individuals alike to engage and participate in its activities.