Samsung SDS announced on the 11th that the ‘AIMer’ algorithm, developed in collaboration with KAIST, was selected as the final algorithm in the ‘quantum-resistant encryption algorithm for electronic signatures’ category of the national contest ‘KpqC’.
Quantum-resistant encryption (PQC) is a technology designed to protect user data more securely in anticipation of quantum computers potentially compromising existing encryption systems. This national contest was held to secure a Korean-style quantum-resistant encryption in preparation for the quantum computer era and covered two areas: electronic signatures and key settings.
Samsung SDS was responsible for designing and implementing the encryption algorithm, while KAIST handled the security analysis. ‘AIMer’ is a cryptographic algorithm based on a self-developed one-way function rather than mathematical challenges like prime factorization. The one-way function is known to be safer in quantum computing environments compared to mathematical challenges, as it makes decryption after encryption impossible.
‘AIMer’ is similar in security advantage to FIPS205(SLH-DSA), one of the ‘quantum-resistant encryption standard algorithms’ announced by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2024. However, ‘AIMer’ is 6.35 times faster and has a 2.9 times smaller signature size, making it easier to apply to lightweight devices such as mobile and IoT devices.
The selected algorithm will be standardized according to domestic and international standards as outlined in the national quantum-resistant encryption transition master plan announced by the National Intelligence Service and the Ministry of Science and ICT. Samsung SDS also plans to pursue standardization in line with these standards.
Samsung SDS has already piloted quantum-resistant encryption in the telecommunications section of the Samsung Cloud Platform (SCP) and plans to continue expanding its use. Additionally, Samsung SDS plans to offer technology (S-CAPE) for transitioning to quantum-resistant encryption on the Samsung Cloud Platform (SCP).
Young-Jun Kwon, vice president and head of Samsung SDS Research Institute, stated, “Being selected as the standard algorithm in the national quantum-resistant encryption contest reaffirms Samsung SDS’s capabilities in security and technology. Security is especially important in enterprise cloud services, and we will continue applying quantum-resistant encryption implementation and transition technology to the Samsung Cloud Platform (SCP) to provide safer services.”