Cyber attacks on critical infrastructure in Australia have been on the rise, with 143 reported incidents in the past year alone, compared to 95 incidents the previous year. In response to this growing threat, the Australian government has announced enhanced cybersecurity measures for 168 critical infrastructure assets, nearly double the number previously classified as “systems of national significance.” However, traditional approaches to cybersecurity, such as password protection and multifactor authentication, have proven to be insecure and vulnerable to hacking. Fortunately, a recent mathematical breakthrough has paved the way for a new approach to cybersecurity known as “ineffable cryptography.” This innovative technology, developed through a collaboration between Tide and RMIT mathematicians, offers a decentralized and secure solution for protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
The development of ineffable cryptography was made possible through the collaboration of multidisciplinary experts in mathematics, cryptography, computing, technology, and business. Dr. Joanne Hall, the lead author of the study from RMIT’s School of Science, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in creating a cutting-edge solution that anticipates future cybersecurity standards. The technology has already been incorporated into a prototype access control system called KeyleSSH, specifically designed for the management of critical infrastructure. KeyleSSH has undergone successful testing with multiple companies, demonstrating the effectiveness of ineffable cryptography in securing critical infrastructure.
Unlike traditional approaches that rely on passwords or key-based access, ineffable cryptography ensures that data and devices are locked with keys that cannot be held by any individual. This is achieved by generating and operating keys invisibly across a decentralized network of servers, with each server holding only a portion of a key. As a result, the full keys, the processes they enable, and the assets they unlock remain hidden from potential hackers. This distributed approach eliminates the risk of a single point of failure or compromise, ensuring the security of critical infrastructure. Michael Loewy, Co-Founder of Tide Foundation, explained that this technology has broad applications beyond cybersecurity, including securing identities, health information, financial systems, and privacy in AI applications.
RMIT and Tide have been collaborating for three years to scientifically validate the claims of ineffable cryptography. This collaboration involved top mathematicians, cybersecurity experts, and RMIT’s Chief Information Security Officer. Additionally, a select group of cybersecurity students worked with industry partners to test the technology and demonstrate its ability to solve security challenges in critical infrastructure. The collaboration took place at RMIT’s AWS Cloud Supercomputing Hub (RACE), Australia’s first university cloud supercomputing facility, which enables faster testing of ideas and solutions. Dr. Robert Shen, Director of RACE, highlighted the significance of this project in showcasing RACE’s role in empowering researchers and industry partners to enhance operational efficiency and accelerate innovation.
Managed service providers involved in the trial of ineffable cryptography, such as Smart Building Services (SBS) Digital, have expressed enthusiasm for the technology. SBS Digital, which offers smart metering systems to industrial complexes, recognizes the importance of ensuring the security of critical infrastructure in the face of growing geopolitical complexities. Jonathan Spinks, Chief Technology Officer of SBS Digital, believes that integrating Tide’s decentralized solution would make their Netstream utility platform’s access controls virtually immune to tampering. This endorsement from managed service providers highlights the potential impact of ineffable cryptography in safeguarding critical infrastructure.
The rise in cyber attacks on critical infrastructure calls for innovative solutions, and ineffable cryptography offers a revolutionary approach to cybersecurity. Through a decentralized network of servers and distributed key generation, this technology ensures the invisibility and security of system access authority. The collaborative efforts of Tide and RMIT have scientifically validated the effectiveness of ineffable cryptography, and its integration into a prototype access control system has been successfully tested. The impact of this breakthrough extends beyond critical infrastructure, with potential applications in securing identities, health information, financial systems, and privacy in AI. As Australia strengthens its cybersecurity measures, ineffable cryptography provides a robust solution for protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
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