QuSecure wins role on missile defence SHIELD deal

QuSecure has won a place on the Missile Defence Agency's Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defence (SHIELD) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, which has a ceiling value of USD $151 billion.

SHIELD covers a range of work areas tied to missile defence and related mission systems. It allows the agency to issue task orders to selected suppliers over the life of the contract, rather than awarding all work in a single deal.

For QuSecure, the award expands access to US Department of Defence programmes as agencies assess how to strengthen cryptographic controls across complex, distributed networks. Defence organisations are also evaluating cryptography for long-lived platforms and the prospect of future threats from quantum computing.

QuSecure's federal lead, Austin Bosarge, said the SHIELD selection builds on the company's work in operational defence environments.

"QuSecure is experiencing continued government traction and deeper penetration into operational defense environments, building on QuSecure's long-standing successful delivery of cryptographic capabilities within tactical networks supporting Army and Air Force use cases," said Bosarge, Head of Federal at QuSecure.

"QuSecure is positioned to extend these capabilities into larger, integrated architectures, supporting broader deployments and operational scale," he added.

Cryptography focus

QuSecure's work centres on cryptographic management and post-quantum cryptography algorithms designed to resist attacks from both classical computers and future quantum computers. In government and defence, the topic has shifted from research to planning, as agencies catalogue where encryption is used across networks, applications and devices.

QuSecure says its approach combines centralised cryptographic management with cryptography that can be updated as standards and threats change. It also uses algorithms selected through the US National Institute of Standards and Technology's post-quantum cryptography process.

The portfolio includes automated discovery of cryptography across an environment and inventory management for cryptographic assets. These functions aim to give security teams visibility into where encryption is used and how it is configured.

QuSecure also offers what it describes as crypto-agile and zero-trust cryptography tooling. It positions this as a way to apply network encryption across infrastructure, nodes and applications, including in distributed environments where connectivity varies.

QuProtect R3

QuSecure's product in this area is QuProtect R3, which it describes as a platform to safeguard data and communications against both classical and quantum threats. It focuses on data in motion, typically addressed through network-layer and application-layer encryption.

QuSecure says QuProtect R3 integrates with existing IT infrastructure and tactical networks, and supports centralised cryptographic management and policy-driven encryption between applications, servers and endpoints.

The company also promotes a "common operating picture" to provide cryptography-consolidated visibility and control over cryptographic settings and deployments across the network.

Policy and standards

Post-quantum cryptography has gained urgency as governments publish migration guidance and timelines. QuSecure referenced CNSA 2.0, requirements tied to the US national security community's transition to quantum-resistant algorithms. Such frameworks shape supplier roadmaps and purchasing decisions in defence and adjacent sectors.

QuSecure executive Brian Cunningham linked the company's position to shifting encryption standards and the risk posed by nation-state actors.

"PQC is essential for secure DoW and partner agency communications as encryption standards evolve to outpace adversaries and nation-state actors who are developing threat vectors through quantum computing," said Cunningham, EVP of Strategy and Growth at QuSecure.

"Our crypto-agile framework brings resilience to legacy and future IT infrastructure," he added.

In a separate statement, Cunningham pointed to the impact of government requirements on the broader market for post-quantum security tools.

"QuSecure's QuProtect R3 platform is purpose-built to support the transition to crypto-agile, centrally managed post-quantum protections that can be deployed across distributed defense networks," said Cunningham. "With government mandates around post-quantum requirements coming into effect and driving government migrations - CNSA 2.0 being a prime example - all organizations and enterprises should begin to feel the pressure to upgrade to post-quantum protections."

As SHIELD task orders emerge, suppliers on the contract are expected to compete for specific pieces of work. QuSecure said it is positioned to extend its cryptographic management and post-quantum encryption offerings into larger, integrated architectures within missile defence environments.