IBM Aims to Set Advanced Encryption Standard for E-Business

IBM submitted a new encryption algorithm to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for consideration as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

IBM said it pioneered network data security by developing the Data Encryption
Algorithm which is the current Data Encryption Standard (DES).

As part of the IBM SecureWay family of offerings, the new IBM encryption algorithm is designed to protect data and electronic commerce well into the next millennium, the company said.

The new IBM algorithm, including a minimal 128-bit key, can be implemented in
hardware, in software, and in bandwidth-constrained applications such as smart cards.

Dramatic increases in computing power since the invention of DES nearly 20
years ago necessitate a change in the federal standard for data encryption, IBM said. Although DES is still a strong encryption algorithm, NIST is preparing for its eventual replacement.

Information about IBM’s security offerings can be found here.