At DSEI 2025 in London, Thales announced the launch of its Datacryptor Model 5 (DCM5), which it describes as a sovereign cryptography system designed to help governments and defence organisations prepare for the risks posed by quantum computing.
According to the company, the device builds on earlier Datacryptor models but is “future-proofed” for a transition to post-quantum algorithms. It is aimed at governments, Five Eyes partners and multinational coalitions seeking to protect sensitive data.
Thales highlighted features including hardware-level customer-defined cryptography, claimed interoperability across multiple nations, and that DCM5 is designed to meet UK CAPS and FIPS 140-3 Level 3 standards.
Chris Edwards, Managing Director of Secure Communication and Protection activities at Thales UK, said the system was not just an incremental update but “a pivotal capability for nations that must safeguard their most sensitive data against the current cyber threat landscape and tomorrow’s quantum powered adversaries.”
Quantum computing is widely recognised by cybersecurity specialists as a looming challenge, with the potential to render existing public key encryption methods vulnerable once sufficiently powerful systems emerge.
Thales claims it has already secured an initial customer for DCM5, though details were not provided.
The company emphasises that the system will integrate with existing networks and maintain backward compatibility with earlier Datacryptor models, suggesting it is positioning DCM5 both as a replacement and as part of long-term fleet upgrades.
It’s important with get the dry, boring stuff right. While internal MOD use is important, making sure the crypto is solid while still being able to communicate with allies needs a concerted effort across NATO and others. This stuff often start with 5-Eyes members and moves outward. I wonder if AUKUS will be the driver in the shift to quantum safe encryption.
Model 5 ? So were the first 4 versions not very good then ?
Apparently the iphone 17 is better than the previous 16 too ! kerching ££££££
In a world of already stolen and in-the-process of being stolen critical encrypted data awaiting quantum cryptographic capabilities of the near future, what measures could the DCM5 already play right now?
The future of cyber-defence in the quantum cryptographic space has already met with smart adversaries who are equally ready to match what cyber-defence capabilities siloed 5-eyed, and government supporting solutions might be.
There’s no better time to commit to start-ups, the engagement of the future of quantum-era cyber-defence. Else, even the future of cyber security in a quantum computing world would remain elusive for government. It would be no more than business as usual. That’s what sells.