Forward Edge-AI delivers quantum device, wins fifth security patent
Forward Edge-AI has secured its fifth patent in the United States for attack-resilient communications and confirmed the successful delivery of its Isidore Quantum data diode device to Taiwan's National Central University (NCU). These milestones demonstrate advances in securing critical infrastructure against current and future quantum computing threats.
International deployment
The deployment of the Isidore Quantum device at NCU is part of a broader effort to advance research in quantum-resistant data security. The technology supports one-way data transfer combined with NIST-approved post-quantum encryption standards, including AES-256 GCM and ML-KEM. This contrasts with traditional one-way data diodes that do not encrypt data in transit, leaving information potentially vulnerable to 'Harvest Now, Decrypt Later' attacks, where intercepted data could be decrypted in the future once quantum computers become available.
The Isidore Quantum device allows for encrypted, unidirectional data flows over both fibre and copper networks, enabling wider adoption without requiring organisations to upgrade existing infrastructure. Eric Adolphe, Chief Executive Officer of Forward Edge-AI, said:
"Delivering Isidore Quantum to National Central University underscores our shared commitment to protecting global critical infrastructure from the coming quantum threat. This partnership symbolizes how technology and research collaboration can prepare nations to face the realities of Q-Day," said Eric Adolphe, CEO, Forward Edge-AI.
Patent on switching
The new patent, U.S. Patent No. 12,452,301 B2, protects a method of facilitating attack-resilient, trust-verified communications. The architecture integrates cryptographic verification into the hardware layer of network switches, supporting secure communications even if a network is compromised. It enables dynamic re-encryption and packet authentication, with the ability to switch cryptographic keys in less than one millisecond in stress conditions.
This switching capacity is significantly below the 30-second requirement typically outlined in government specifications, and no comparable commercial solution claims to meet the sub-millisecond threshold. The system is designed to enforce trust boundaries in hardware, resisting tampering and maintaining message confidentiality in the face of potential quantum computing attacks.
Government validation
The patent was developed under a U.S. Government contract with the Air Force Research Labouratory, and the government retains certain rights in the underlying inventions, highlighting the national security significance of the technology.
The Isidore Quantum product has been deployed in 23 pilot projects with the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, and Microsoft. Test results showed latency of less than 0.5 milliseconds, throughput up to 2 Gbps, and power consumption below eight watts. The device is silent, requires no fan, and is eligible for export under U.S. encryption export rules.
Regulatory pressure
The delivery and patent coincide with mounting regulatory demands for stronger cryptographic defences. An executive order from the White House requires all U.S. federal agencies to begin transitioning to post-quantum cryptography by December 2025 and complete that process by 2030. The Isidore Quantum system enables organisations to deploy quantum-resistant protection on existing networks without major reconfiguration or certification challenges.
Adolphe stressed the inevitability of quantum computing risk:
"Q-Day isn't a distant risk; it's a certainty. Our patented Switch Isidore architecture provides the trust fabric needed to secure command, control, and communications across defence, finance, and critical infrastructure sectors in the quantum era," said Adolphe.
Market positioning
The company positions its deployed solution as distinct from competitors, who it claims are still at the research stage. Ross Coffman, President of Forward Edge-AI and retired Lieutenant General from the U.S. Army, said:
"Every competitor still has something in the lab. We have something in the field. Given the federal mandate to begin the post-quantum transition by December 2025, only proven solutions like ours can meet the deadline," said Coffman.