Billions of IoT devices deployed today, from smart meters to industrial sensors and medical implants, have 15 to 25 year operational lifecycles that extend well into the quantum era. These devices face severe power, memory, and compute constraints that make software PQC impractical. Purpose-built silicon is the answer.
Standard post-quantum algorithms were designed for servers and desktops with abundant compute resources. ML-KEM key generation requires multiple 256-point NTTs, polynomial multiplications, and hash operations that consume orders of magnitude more power than classical ECDH, making direct software implementation impractical for battery-powered devices.
The lifecycle problem compounds this challenge. A smart meter installed in 2025 must remain secure through 2045 or beyond. Firmware updates can swap algorithms, but the underlying hardware must be capable of executing PQC operations within its power and thermal envelope from day one.
Dyber addresses this with purpose-built silicon at multiple integration points: the QuantaSE secure element for standalone devices, the QCORE-C1 chiplet for SoC integration, and IP cores for OEMs building their own silicon.
| Constraint | Details |
|---|---|
| Power Budget | Battery-powered devices operate on uW-mW budgets. Standard software PQC on a Cortex-M4 consumes 50-100 mJ per ML-KEM operation. Hardware acceleration reduces this by 10 to 100x. |
| Memory Footprint | Many IoT MCUs have 256 KB to 1 MB flash and 64 to 256 KB RAM. PQC key sizes (ML-KEM-768 public keys are 1,184 bytes; ML-DSA-65 public keys are 1,952 bytes) compete with application firmware. |
| Latency Tolerance | Industrial control systems and automotive ECUs require deterministic timing. Software PQC execution times vary 2 to 5x due to rejection sampling in ML-DSA, making timing guarantees impossible without dedicated hardware. |
| Field Upgradability | Algorithm agility is essential. Devices must support new PQC standards without physical replacement. QCORE-C1's reconfigurable architecture enables over-the-air algorithm updates throughout the device lifecycle. |
Dyber offers multiple integration options depending on your device's constraints, volume, and performance requirements.
Standalone post-quantum secure element for devices with existing MCUs. Communicates over SPI/I2C. Ideal for adding quantum resistance to existing designs without changing the main processor.
PQC accelerator chiplet for direct SoC integration via Quantum Lattice Interface (QLI). 6x6 mm die, <3 ns interface latency. Production on GlobalFoundries 22FDX.
Architecture-agnostic IP blocks for OEMs building their own silicon. NTT engines, ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SHA-3, and side-channel wrappers. FPGA-validated, RTL delivery.
Smart meters and grid sensors with 20+ year lifecycles handling sensitive consumption data and grid control commands. Quantum-resistant firmware updates and command authentication.
Implantable and wearable medical devices transmitting patient health data over wireless links. PQC-protected device authentication for HIPAA and EU MDR compliance.
Vehicle ECUs, V2X communication modules, and OTA update systems. Deterministic hardware execution for ISO 26262 functional safety timing constraints.
Factory automation, process control, and supply chain tracking. PQC-secured device authentication and encrypted sensor data to protect intellectual property.
| Standard | Relevance |
|---|---|
| FIPS 140-3 | Cryptographic module validation for government and critical infrastructure IoT |
| IEC 62443 | Industrial automation cybersecurity. PQC for SCADA and process control |
| ISO 26262 | Automotive functional safety. Deterministic PQC timing for safety-critical ECUs |
| HIPAA / EU MDR | Medical device data protection. Long-term confidentiality for patient health data |
| NERC CIP | Critical infrastructure protection for energy sector IoT and grid devices |
Pilot program now accepting applications. Request evaluation hardware or talk to our engineering team.