Thales has celebrated the CES 2026 award given to Samsung Electronics’ new post-quantum-ready security chip, a collaboration that marks a pivotal advance in cybersecurity for the quantum age. The chip, from Samsung’s System LSI Business, integrates Thales’ secure operating system and quantum-resistant cryptographic libraries, creating a foundational defense for connected devices against both current threats and future quantum-era attacks.
The core threat driving this innovation is twofold. Quantum computers, with their anticipated power, will one day break today’s widespread encryption standards. Furthermore, a “harvest now, decrypt later” strategy is already a present danger, where adversaries collect encrypted data to crack it once quantum computers become available. This jeopardizes everything from personal identities to the cryptographic keys embedded in billions of devices.
Thales’ contribution directly counters these risks. Its hardened operating system enables Samsung’s chip to deliver hardware-based, quantum-resistant protection from the moment a device powers on. This ensures encrypted data and credentials remain secure against both classical and quantum attacks, preserving long-term confidentiality and integrity.
The jointly developed solution, the S3SSE2A chip, is engineered for efficiency as well as security. Thales’ software enables it to perform next-generation cryptographic operations at high speed while consuming less power and memory. This makes robust, future-proof security feasible for a vast range of applications, from consumer electronics to expansive IoT ecosystems, not just high-end systems.
“We are very proud to partner with Samsung System LSI on this pioneering achievement,” said Eva Rudin, Vice President of Mobile Connectivity Solutions at Thales. “The S3SSE2A chip is a game-changer, offering robust, future-proof security in an energy-efficient design. Together, our companies have redefined what is possible for embedded cybersecurity.”
Hwa Yeal Yu, vice president at Samsung Electronics, added, “Samsung and Thales have built a long-standing collaboration in security, and we are pleased to introduce the industry’s first PQC total solution. Developed jointly from the outset to integrate hardware and software, this solution delivers an exceptional level of security for the next generation of connected devices.”
This breakthrough sets a new industry benchmark, proving that seamless hardware-software integration is essential to build the trusted foundation required for a post-quantum world.
