At the dawn of quantum computing, PQShield, a pioneer in quantum-secure cryptography, and SiFive, the leader of the RISC-V architecture, have jointly woven a solid shield against future quantum threats, putting on the post-quantum encryption robe for the Essential and Performance series of high-performance processors. This strategic alliance not only builds an impregnable wall of quantum attacks for systems in key fields such as aerospace, consumer electronics, defense security, and automotive manufacturing, but also accelerates the popularization and application of NIST's post-quantum encryption standard in the RISC-V technology ecosystem, leading an unprecedented security revolution.
With the rapid development of quantum computing technology, a potential crypto storm is looming, and traditional cryptographic standards are facing unprecedented challenges. Quantum computers are like an invisible key that can easily unlock the chains that currently protect the global digital world, making the ghost strategy of "steal first and decrypt later" possible, and the future of data security is in jeopardy. It is precisely because of this that NIST has stepped forward to open up a new frontier of cybersecurity and set a new benchmark for the global security defense system with standardized post-quantum cryptography algorithms as a sword.
Faced with this urgency, hardware and software manufacturers are racing to upgrade their products to the PQC encryption system that complies with NIST's post-quantum cryptography standards, in an effort to build a solid line of defense before the quantum storm hits. RISC-V, as a bright new star of future system architecture, is becoming increasingly important on the broad stage of the Internet of Things, aerospace, defense security and the automotive industry, and the demand for high performance and security is increasing day by day.
Figure: PQShield partners with Si-Five to advance post-quantum cryptography in RISC-V
The combination of PQShield and SiFive is a precise response to the needs of this era. PQShield's PQPlatform-CoPro technology, seamlessly integrated with SiFive's best-in-class RISC-V processors, not only overcomes the challenge of balancing quantum security and performance, but also provides an unprecedented foundation of security and trust for automotive, consumer electronics, and defense and aviation. This convergence not only demonstrates PQShield's deep heritage in cutting-edge security IP, but also SiFive's leadership in processor technology innovation to create a future-proof, plug-and-play hardware security solution that lays the foundation for a quantum-resistant hardware root of trust, which the NSA considers the highest priority security strategy.
In particular, the collaboration also pioneers the combination of PQShield's cryptographic library and RISC-V vector extensions, allowing developers to take advantage of the performance leaps brought about by RISC-V vector extensions in SiFive Performance P470 CPUs while enjoying post-quantum protection, achieving a leap in both security and efficiency.
Graeme Hickey, VP of Engineering at PQShield, praised the partnership: "Working with SiFive is like finding a like-minded partner for PQShield. Together, we contributed to the development of the NIST PQC standard and contributed to the expansion of the RISC-V Cryptographic Directive. "We are proud to be working alongside SiFive as it reshapes the future of RISC-V computing with its high-performance processors, protecting the technologies that are critical to national security and people's well-being, and helping RISC-V innovators stay ahead of potential threats."
Yann Loisel, Chief Security Architect at SiFive, also expressed his expectation and confidence in the collaboration: "Integrating post-quantum protection into our Essential and high-performance processor family is an important step for us and a solid commitment to our customers. This collaboration not only enables designers of RISC-V vector extensions to embrace cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies, but also lays a solid foundation for the growth of post-quantum cryptography for the entire RISC-V community at the time of the release of the NIST standard.”
