The Past, Present and Future of Fully Homomorphic Encryption

It is no secret that the modern digital landscape is increasingly fraught with danger. The rate and sophistication of cyberattacks are increasing yearly with no sign of slowing down. The proliferation of AI and ML models combined with the expected arrival of quantum computing further compound this issue, promising to democratise cybercrime to the lowest rung of actors.

In this landscape, traditional encryption or data protection techniques have been found wanting, incapable of rebuffing the current level of attack sophistication, let alone what’s coming. Understanding this, the industry at large has been searching for an ironclad data security strategy that can simultaneously protect sensitive data while allowing organisations to utilise it securely.

Through this search, one technology has been soundly identified - Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE). This advanced cryptographic method, capable of performing computations on encrypted data without ever decrypting it, heralds a new era of privacy and security in data processing.

In this article, we will explore the origins, innovations and future of FHE - how this technology promises to reshape the cybersecurity world and Vaultree’s place at the head of this revolution. 

The Origins of FHE

Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), a concept long considered to be the optimal yet impossible holy grail of cryptography, enables computation on encrypted data without necessitating decryption. 

The journey towards practical implementations of FHE began with a theoretical proposal by Rivest, Adleman and Dertouzos in 1978, remaining theoretical until 2009 when Craig Gentry used a lattice-based approach and a technique known as “bootstrapping.” This innovation allowed cybersecurity experts to see FHE as something that could become possible in real-world implementations with enough innovation to improve practicality and efficiency concerns.

Despite these challenges, ongoing advancements are moving FHE closer to widespread application, promising to revolutionise data privacy and secure computing in untrusted environments.

Recent Advancements in FHE

In order to make FHE practical for real-world applications, many advancements have been made since Gentry’s scheme in 2009. These include:

1. Optimisation Techniques: New algorithms have emerged to reduce the computational load and complexity to increase the speed of FHE operations. This includes improvements in noise management and the bootstrapping process, which are critical for maintaining data integrity during encryption and computation. 
2. Software Libraries and Tools: The development of open-source libraries, such as Microsoft's SEAL and IBM's HELib, has made FHE more accessible to developers. These tools provide pre-built functions and optimised algorithms, simplifying the integration of FHE into applications.
3. Integration with Cloud Services: Cloud providers have started to incorporate FHE into their platforms, offering secure data processing services. This integration allows users to perform encrypted data analytics and machine learning tasks within the cloud, ensuring privacy and security.
4. Interoperability and Standards: Efforts are underway to establish FHE standards, promoting interoperability between different implementations and ensuring security benchmarks. Standardisation will facilitate broader adoption and foster trust in FHE's security guarantees.

Vaultree’s FHE Breakthrough 

Vaultree was conceived with the mission of transforming complete data privacy from a privilege into a fundamental human right. Recognizing the transformative potential of Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) early on, our founders dedicated themselves to mastering and advancing this technology well before Vaultree's official establishment. They believed that FHE, once fully harnessed, would be the key to realising their vision of universal data privacy.

Driven by this vision, Vaultree is now an industry leader in the implementation of Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), representing a significant breakthrough in data security. As an industry pioneer, Vaultree has crafted its proprietary Fully Functional Data-In-Use Encryption (FFDUE™) technology, building upon the core concepts of FHE to achieve groundbreaking advancements. This technology is no longer simply an implementation of FHE but so much more. 

The FFDUE™ Revolution 

Innovation

Vaultree's FFDUE™ technology allows for unlimited computations and queries on encrypted data without requiring decryption, a core tenet of FHE. This innovation ensures the utmost security of data in use and significantly enhances performance and efficiency, addressing one of the traditional limitations of FHE.

We are so proud of our advancements regarding speed and efficiency that we proudly display our benchmarks to the world.

Industry Specific Solutions 

Vaultree has tailored its FFDUE™ solution to cater to various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and government, where data sensitivity and privacy are paramount. By enabling secure data analytics and machine learning on encrypted data, Vaultree enables organisations to unlock valuable insights without compromising data security or privacy.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Vaultree's collaboration with Google Cloud SQL, Google AlloyDB and Tableau further solidifies its position in the FHE landscape. Our partnership with Google allows for the seamless integration of Vaultree's encryption technology into existing cloud infrastructures, offering clients a secure, scalable, and easily adoptable solution. While our Tableau integration enables organisations, for the very first time, to easily and securely report on real-time analytics. 

Commitment to Research and Development

Vaultree’s dedication to innovation is evident in its ongoing research and development efforts. The company continually seeks to refine and expand its encryption capabilities, ensuring that its solutions remain at the cutting edge of FHE implementation.

Educational Initiatives 

FFDUE™ is changing what is commonly known as possible in the realms of data-in-use encryption, boasting metrics that have never been seen before. Due to this consistent and groundbreaking innovation, it also falls on Vaultree to educate the public, both data security-minded and not. 

Welcome to the Future of FHE

Vaultree's leadership in applying Fully Homomorphic Encryption through its FFDUE™ technology marks a significant stride in safeguarding data. This advancement redefines data security, ensuring privacy and utility coexist seamlessly. As cybersecurity challenges evolve, Vaultree's innovative approach exemplifies the potential of FHE to revolutionise data protection. We encourage organisations to explore how Vaultree's solutions can fortify their data security frameworks and join us in shaping a more secure digital future. 

To discuss FFDUE™ further or find out how Vaultree can bring secure data utilisation to your organisation, book a demo here!