CloudSign Begins New Technology Validation with Cybertrust to Support Quantum Computing

　Bengo4.com (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Taichiro Motoe, Representative Director, President and CEO, Lawyer; hereinafter, “the Company”) announces that its contract management platform CloudSign has begun validating technologies for electronic contracts using a new encryption technology called post-quantum cryptography (PQC), in collaboration with Cybertrust Japan Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yuji Kitamura; hereinafter, “Cybertrust”). Together, the Company and Cybertrust will aim to create more secure electronic contracts to address the vulnerabilities of existing encryption accompanying the development of quantum computers.

 
■ Significance of CloudSign’s technology validation efforts
　As a leading company in the electronic contract market, with CloudSign, the Company has contributed to the advancement of digital transformation (DX) in Japan. The Company is currently working to further develop and improve the reliability of electronic contracts based on the extensive knowledge and technical expertise that it has amassed to date. This time, with an eye to the coming quantum computing era, the Company has begun validating post-quantum cryptography (PQC) technologies*1. Since it is considered possible that current encryption technologies may be defeated in the future by the computing power of quantum computers, it is essential to adopt new encryption technologies to ensure long-term data security. To permanently guarantee the safety and reliability that are the most important aspects of electronic contracts, the Company will continue to observe global trends in encryption standardization, and pioneer the validation of technologies supporting PQC. The Company believes that these efforts are important for fulfilling its social responsibilities as a leading company in the industry, and for protecting customers’ important contract data in the future.
*1: A next-generation encryption technology that is also resistant to attacks by quantum computers.
 
■ Background to the need for technical validation of new encryption technologies
　Recent developments in quantum computing technologies have raised concerns that current (public key) encryption technologies may be defeated by quantum computers. As a measure to combat this threat, the US specialist organization NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) is promoting the standardization of new encryption technologies called post-quantum cryptography (PQC). Cybertrust is actively developing systems that support the three PQC encryption methods chosen by NIST, and CloudSign will be evaluating the feasibility of implementing PQC in electronic contract systems from a variety of perspectives, through joint technology validation with Cybertrust. By doing so, the Company aims to implement advanced encryption technologies that cannot be defeated even in the era of quantum computers, and ensure the long-term security of electronic contracts.

■ About Cybertrust Japan Co., Ltd.:　https://www.cybertrust.co.jp/
　Cybertrust has been providing authentication and security services for more than 25 years as Japan’s first commercial electronic authentication authority and Linux/open-source software (OSS) services for on-premises, cloud, and embedded systems, by applying its knowledge of Miracle Linux kernel technology and OSS. Cybertrust has also been delivering services to support the credibility of its customers’ services by combining these technologies and outcomes to verify the authenticity of people, goods, services, and both tangible and intangible assets, for IoT and other fields involving advanced technologies. “Trust for all people, tangible things and intangible things” . Cybertrust leverages its expertise and highly neutral technologies relating to IT infrastructure to create a safe and secure society.
 
■ About CloudSign: 　https://www.cloudsign.jp/
　CloudSign is a contract management platform that enables digitization of everything from contract execution to management and AI review. The electronic signatures and timestamps are compliant with the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business, ensuring smooth and secure contract execution. CloudSign also began offering Japan’s first ever My Number Card (individual number card) signature capability*2 as part of its general-purpose contracting service in 2023. The platform also shortens the time required for the entire contracting process through the active adoption of AI technology including an AI contract management capability and an AI-powered contract review service, CloudSign Review. CloudSign has become the No. 1 service in the electronic contract market*3, and is widely adopted by companies and local governments.

*2: Patented
*3 Market share in “New Markets of Software Business 2024” (2023 result of e-contract tools) by Fuji Chimera Research Institute, Inc.