Exchange of sensitive data in business processes requires mutual trust of the partners. Security even without trust is the objective of HomER (HOMomorphic Encryption Realization): By a novel hardware-supported process, two partners, who distrust each other, can make secure computations on the basis of secret inputs. In this way, business data might be adapted such that the result desired becomes known, whereas the input remains protected.
Business processes, such as securities trading, auctions, or resources management are increasingly accomplished in a distributed manner. Their security so far has required mutual trust. Security even without mutual trust is guaranteed by secure computations studied under the HomER project. For example, if public institutions invite tenders, after which the order will go to the company offering the lowest price, construction companies can now submit a secret tender. By means of secure computation, it will be guaranteed that competitors will not obtain any knowledge about other tenders.
Moreover, the user of the newly developed hardware neither has to trust the device nor does he have to know its setup. The security of the process is based on isolation of the system from the outer world by a Faraday cage.
HomER is the pilot project of the IIC, the cooperation of IBM Deutschland Research & Development, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and the Research Center for Information Technology (FZI). It focuses on new possibilities of implementing secure computations based on the fully homomorphic encryption invented by IBM. The IIC offers several membership levels to partners from industry and is highly interested in establishing public private partnerships.
Further information can be found under: http://www.iic.kit.edu
IBM Deutschland Research & Development GmbH, KIT, and FZI will present the prototype on February, 16, 2011, 17.30 hrs, Institute of Cryptography and Security (IKS) at KIT, Am Fasanengarten 5. Journalists are cordially invited.
Kindly register by e-mail using the form enclosed.
Program:
Welcome:
Professor Dr. Wilfried Juling, CSO/CIO of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Welcome Addresses by Representatives of Politics and Science
Welcome Addresses:
Mr. Sven Löschenkohl, Vice President - Leader Public Sector - IBM Deutschland GmbH
Keynote: “Cryptography: Magic, Science, or Science Fiction?”
Professor Dr. Dieter Gollmann, Institute for Security in Distributed Applications, Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg
Presentation of the Prototype of the HomER Project
Reception (about 19.30 hrs)
During the reception, representatives of the media will have the opportunity to make interviews.
Exhibition: A small selection of historical encryption machines will be presented.
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