ZeroTier and Carahsoft Technology Corp. have entered a strategic partnership to expand access to software-defined networking solutions within the Public Sector. Through this agreement, Carahsoft will distribute ZeroTier Quantum, a platform designed to provide end-to-end, quantum-secure connectivity. This expansion is facilitated through Carahsoft’s reseller network and the NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V contract. For government and defense organizations, this move provides a streamlined procurement path to deploy resilient, infrastructure-agnostic networks. By leveraging established channels, agencies can rapidly implement high-performance connectivity that addresses the emerging cryptographic challenges posed by advancing quantum computing capabilities, ensuring operational continuity across diverse and sensitive environments.
ZeroTier Quantum Availability via Carahsoft SEWP V
The partnership focuses on delivering ZeroTier Quantum to government agencies and defense organizations through established procurement vehicles. By utilizing Carahsoft’s distribution network and the NASA SEWP V contract (specifically NNG15SC03B and NNG15SC27B), agencies can bypass the complexities of traditional infrastructure buildouts. This access allows for the rapid deployment of secure networks that link users, devices, and workloads across cloud, on-premise, and edge environments.
ZeroTier Quantum is specifically engineered to address the "harvest now, decrypt later" and "trust now, forge later" threat vectors. As quantum computing advances, existing cryptographic standards face significant challenges. ZeroTier addresses this by embedding post-quantum cryptographic resilience directly into the transport layer. The platform utilizes the ZeroTier Transport Protocol (ZTP) and a memory-safe Rust architecture to implement hybrid ML-KEM-1024 and ECDH P-384 cryptography. This technical approach ensures that connectivity remains secure even as quantum capabilities evolve.
The solution is designed for high-performance, infrastructure-agnostic connectivity. It functions seamlessly across public cloud, sovereign, and air-gapped environments, allowing agencies to maintain data sovereignty. Furthermore, the platform supports a wide range of mission-critical applications, from secure remote access to tactical edge deployments and high-availability site-to-site connections. This flexibility enables organizations to modernize their secure connectivity without the cost or disruption associated with replacing existing underlying infrastructure.
Post-Quantum Resilience and Zero Trust Architecture
ZeroTier Quantum is built on a Zero Trust architecture, providing a practical pathway for agencies to adopt NIST-approved post-quantum cryptography ahead of federal compliance deadlines. This is particularly relevant for next-generation platforms such as drones, sensors, and software-defined vehicles (SDVs) that rely heavily on Communication Security (COMSEC). For these devices, the platform embeds post-quantum resilience out of the box, ensuring security is integrated from the point of deployment.
For organizations managing legacy infrastructure and High Value Assets (HVAs), ZeroTier Quantum offers a method to encapsulate existing platforms with a secure overlay. This capability allows for immediate modernization of security protocols without the complexity of a complete hardware overhaul. This approach is critical for maintaining operational agility while strengthening cyber resilience in a distributed and demanding threat environment.
The platform's architecture is designed to meet rigorous NIST and NSA CNSA 2.0 standards. By integrating directly into software applications, ZeroTier Quantum enables rapid adoption of advanced cryptographic standards. This is essential for defense organizations where the stakes for connectivity and security are exceptionally high. The ability to operate in complex, sensitive, and even offline environments ensures that mission-critical operations remain protected against evolving threats, providing a robust defense capability for the most demanding public sector requirements.
Key Takeaways
- ZeroTier Quantum utilizes hybrid ML-KEM-1024 and ECDH P-384 cryptography to defend against "harvest now, decrypt later" threats.
- Agencies can procure ZeroTier solutions through Carahsoft via the NASA SEWP V contract (NNG15SC03B and NNG15SC27B).
- The platform supports post-quantum resilience for next-generation hardware, including drones, sensors, and software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
TechInsyte's Take
In our view, the ZeroTier and Carahsoft partnership signals a strategic shift in how the Public Sector must approach network modernization. The move toward post-quantum cryptography is no longer a theoretical future requirement but a present necessity due to the "harvest now, decrypt later" threat model. By embedding ML-KEM-1024 and ECDH P-384 directly into the transport layer, ZeroTier is positioning itself as a critical layer in the Zero Trust stack for defense and intelligence agencies. This approach is particularly significant for organizations managing a mix of legacy High Value Assets and cutting-edge edge devices like SDVs. The ability to wrap legacy systems in a secure, post-quantum overlay provides a pragmatic, non-disruptive path to compliance. For decision-makers, this represents a shift from reactive security patching to proactive, software-defined cryptographic resilience.
Questions & Answers
How does ZeroTier Quantum protect against "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks?
ZeroTier Quantum embeds post-quantum cryptographic resilience directly into the transport layer using a hybrid approach that combines ML-KEM-1024 and ECDH P-384 cryptography. This protects data from being captured today and decrypted later when quantum computing capabilities advance.
What procurement vehicles are available for government agencies to acquire ZeroTier?
Government agencies can access ZeroTier solutions through Carahsoft’s reseller partners and the NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) V contract, specifically under contract numbers NNG15SC03B and NNG15SC27B.
Can ZeroTier Quantum be used with existing legacy infrastructure?
Yes. ZeroTier Quantum can encapsulate legacy infrastructure and High Value Assets (HVAs) with a secure overlay. This allows agencies to modernize their security posture and achieve post-quantum resilience without the cost or disruption of replacing their underlying hardware.
For which specific hardware types is post-quantum resilience built "out of the box"?
The platform is designed to provide out-of-the-box post-quantum resilience for next-generation platforms that rely on Communication Security (COMSEC), specifically mentioning drones, sensors, and software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
Source: BUSINESSWIRE
