**American Binary: Why “Mostly Post Quantum” Is Another Way to Say Vulnerable**
In the fast-evolving world of cybersecurity, the emergence of quantum computing has introduced a new frontier of both opportunity and risk. With the phrase “harvest now, decrypt later” becoming an all-too-real threat, organizations are under pressure to secure their cryptographic infrastructure against future quantum attacks. However, not all quantum-safe solutions are created equal. As a CISO, it’s critical to ask not just whether a product claims to be “post quantum,” but whether it truly meets the stringent standards required for modern security challenges.
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### The Problem with “Mostly Post Quantum”
During a recent briefing with Cris Salas, EVP of Sales at American Binary, the contrast between genuine post quantum readiness and partial compliance became clear. Many vendors bolt on hybrid post quantum key exchanges to existing products, slap a badge on a slide, and declare the job done. But as Salas emphasized, true security requires full-stack compliance—not just “some” of the solution.
This gap between partial implementation and complete coverage is where American Binary has chosen to build its company. Focusing on clients who cannot afford to be wrong about security—including federal agencies, defense contractors, critical infrastructure operators, and enterprises with long-term data value—American Binary has positioned itself as a provider of uncompromising quantum-resistant solutions.
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### The Strength of CNSA 2.0 Compliance
What sets American Binary apart is its alignment with the NSA’s Commercial National Security Algorithm (CNSA) 2.0 standard, which sets the cryptographic requirements for National Security Systems. CNSA 2.0 is deliberately strict, permitting only maximum-security levels and explicitly rejecting hybrid or non-standardized solutions for mission-critical systems.
According to Salas, partial compliance is failure. CNSA 2.0 covers four essential components:
– Authentication
– Key exchange
– Bulk encryption
– Hashing
Solutions that address only three out of four components leave exploitable vulnerabilities. Ambit Client, American Binary’s enterprise VPN, is engineered to cover all four components using:
– ML-KEM-1024 for authentication and key exchange
– AES-256-GCM for bulk encryption
– SHA2-512 for hashing
With no pre-quantum or classical cryptography in the stack, Ambit Client stands alone in its full-stack coverage, claiming to be the only solution that meets CNSA 2.0 requirements without compromise.
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### Verification Beyond Marketing Claims
One of the most compelling aspects of American Binary’s offering is the depth of its verification. Rather than relying on internal assertions, the company has subjected its cryptographic construction to symbolic proof and formal verification by qualified third parties, including former Galois Principal Scientists and DARPA affiliates.
The conclusion? Independent experts have validated mutual authentication under ML-KEM-1024 and the remaining claims required for CNSA 2.0 compliance. This level of scrutiny provides assurance that goes beyond marketing language and into the realm of provable security.
Oracle’s Cryptography Review Board has reached similar conclusions, evaluating Ambit Client against NIST recommendations, FIPS standards, and NSA regulations. With an advisory board that includes pioneers like Brian LaMacchia, Whitfield Diffie, and Bruce Schneier, the company’s credibility is backed by names that define the field of cryptography.
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### Redefining Performance in Post Quantum Security
A common objection to post quantum migration is performance. Larger keys and more complex algorithms traditionally mean slower processes, heavier bandwidth usage, and increased operational friction. American Binary challenges this assumption through its Cryptographic Construction Innovation, which reportedly:
– Reduces handshake packet size by approximately 4,600 bytes compared to standard CNSA 2.0 implementations
– Operates efficiently even in constrained environments like mobile networks and satellite links
– Delivers line-rate throughput on terabit networks, with claims of being 70% faster than leading enterprise VPNs
By leveraging Vector Packet Processing and the Data Plane Development Kit, American Binary achieves both compliance and performance without requiring hardware replacement.
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### The Case for Crypto Agility
Perhaps the most strategic argument American Binary makes is the importance of crypto agility. While many vendors promote a hybrid path that spreads migration over two separate projects, Salas advocates for a singular, quantum-resistant architecture built from the ground up.
Ambit Client is designed for algorithm agility, allowing future updates to be implemented at the product level without requiring a complete overhaul. At the core of this flexibility is MaxKyber, the company’s post quantum network protocol, which is peer-reviewed and aligned with CNSA 2.0. The result is a solution that aims to outlast multiple cryptographic transitions, turning what could be years of recurring projects into a single, future-proof investment.
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### Why CISOs Should Pay Attention
For security leaders, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The window between harvesting encrypted data and its decryption by quantum computers is already open. Organizations that delay meaningful action risk having their most sensitive information exposed—silently and without warning.
What distinguishes American Binary from others in the space is not just its technology, but its willingness to be measured against the highest standards. With:
– Unquestioned adherence to NSA-defined requirements
– Independent validation from industry-leading researchers
– Real-world deployment in production environments
– A performance profile that improves on existing solutions
The company offers more than a product—it offers a path to genuine quantum resilience.
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### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
**Q: What does “mostly post quantum” mean in cybersecurity?**
A: It refers to solutions that incorporate only partial post quantum cryptography, often mixing classical and quantum-resistant algorithms. This approach can leave vulnerabilities that attackers exploit.
**Q: Why is partial compliance considered failure?**
A: In cryptographic systems, attackers target the weakest link. Missing even one component of a security stack can compromise the entire system.
**Q: What is CNSA 2.0, and why is it important?**
A: CNSA 2.0 is a set of cryptographic standards defined by the NSA for National Security Systems. It mandates strict quantum-resistant algorithms and does not accept partial or hybrid solutions for mission-critical applications.
**Q: How does Ambit Client differ from other post quantum VPNs?**
A: Ambit Client is engineered to cover all four CNSA 2.0 components without relying on classical cryptography. It also claims superior performance, reduced packet size, and formal verification by independent experts.
**Q: Is American Binary’s cryptographic construction independently verified?**
A: Yes. The product has undergone symbolic proof and peer review by qualified third parties, including researchers with backgrounds at DARPA and Galois.
**Q: What does crypto agility mean for the future of security?**
A: Crypto agility allows cryptographic algorithms to be updated or swapped as standards evolve, without requiring a full system replacement. This ensures long-term security and cost efficiency.
**Q: Does American Binary require specialized hardware?**
A: No. The solution is designed to operate on existing infrastructure, with no hardware replacement needed.
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### Conclusion
The quantum computing threat is no longer theoretical—adversaries are already collecting encrypted data for future decryption. In this environment, organizations must move beyond marketing claims and toward provable, standards-based security. American Binary represents a departure from the “mostly post quantum” approach by offering a solution that is fully compliant, independently verified, and built for performance. For CISOs facing the inevitability of quantum risk, the choice is no longer whether to act, but how to act with certainty. In a world where partial compliance is failure, complete solutions are not optional—they are essential.
