Software-Enabled Cryptography: assuring defence’s digital edge

Modern defence operations demand real-time adaptability to evolving threats. As operational environments become more digital and interconnected, defence organisations must rapidly develop, test, and deploy cryptographic solutions to safeguard sensitive information and maintain operational superiority. Software-Enabled Cryptography (SEC), embedded into defence platforms, offers a dynamic response - delivering agile iteration cycles that allow personnel to adapt quickly to changing tactical and cyber landscapes.

The strategic value of information

In today’s defence planning, information is no longer just a tool—it is a strategic asset. Military effectiveness now hinges on decision superiority: the ability to collect, process, analyse, and act upon data faster than adversaries. The confidentiality, authenticity, provenance and integrity of this data is critical for this information to be seamlessly shared for enabling joint, coalition, and multi-domain operations.

The limitations of traditional cryptography

Traditional cryptographic systems—primarily hardware-based—struggle to keep pace with the speed and complexity of modern defence environments. These systems are typically rigid, slow to update, and difficult to scale across platforms. At the same time, adversaries continue to evolve, employing tactics such as Electronic Warfare (EW), AI-driven cyber-attacks, and emerging quantum computing. Hardware-centric encryption solutions, developed over long timelines, cannot meet the speed and agility demands of today’s threat landscape.

Recognising this, NIST defines crypto agility as the capability to replace and adapt cryptographic algorithms across systems—without disrupting operations—to ensure resiliency. SEC delivers on this vision.

The advantages of SEC

SEC harnesses software-defined and zero-trust architectures to enable flexible, future ready services. Key benefits include:

• Rapid adaptability: enables fast development and deployment of new encryption algorithms in near real-time, without costly hardware changes.
• Agile threat response: supports faster iteration cycles that enable timely patching of vulnerabilities and quicker responses to emerging threats.
• DevSecOps integration: applying DevSecOps principles to cryptographic development streamlines secure code delivery and threat mitigation.
• Platform interoperability: SEC can be seamlessly integrated into both legacy and next-generation defence systems, enhancing operational flexibility.

Challenges and Considerations

While powerful, SEC also introduces specific challenges:

• Performance considerations: SEC can introduce latency in high-throughput operations; optimisation is required to balance performance and security.
• Standards compliance: solutions must align with evolving defence cryptographic standards.
• Security assurance: as software increases the potential attack surface, robust testing, auditing and protection measures are critical.

Looking Ahead

As defence ecosystems become more integrated and data-driven, the ability to deploy cryptographic solutions with speed and agility will be critical to achieving mission outcomes. SEC offers a compelling pathway to achieving this agility, enabling rapid deployment of tailored encryption solutions across dynamic threat environments.

To remain resilient, defence organisations should invest in:

• AI-driven encryption models for adaptive threat recognition.
• Quantum-resistant algorithms to prepare for future-state adversaries.
• Autonomous cryptographic systems by leveraging SEC techniques where applicable.
• Loosely coupled open architecture to exploit DevSecOps and Continuous Integration/ Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.

Static defences are no longer sufficient in a constantly evolving threat landscape. The ability to secure critical information quickly and adapt cryptographic strategies in real-time will define success for future operations. SEC stands at the centre of this transformation, empowering the military to secure information, respond quickly to threats, and maintain superiority across all domains.

Discover how CGI helps defence organisations build crypto-agile capabilities to stay ahead of emerging threats here or visit us at the upcoming CyberUK event.