Memorandum of Understanding

DEKRA and IBM Join Forces to Advance Trust in the Post-Quantum Era

Jun 17, 2026

DEKRA, the world’s leading non-listed independent expert organization in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC), and International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), a leading global IT company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly advance Quantum Safe Assurance and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) services. The collaboration aims to support organizations in preparing for one of the most significant cybersecurity transitions of the coming decades: the move to quantum-safe.

As we progress toward the reality of cryptographically relevant quantum computers, the security foundations that protect today’s digital infrastructure are increasingly at risk: Secure communications, digital identities, connected products, financial transactions, critical infrastructure, and emerging AI-driven systems, all rely on cryptographic foundations that were designed for the classical computing era. However, advances in quantum computing could challenge many of today’s widely used cryptographic algorithms. Unlike conventional computers, quantum computers could eventually break certain cryptographic methods far more efficiently, potentially weakening the security mechanisms that protect digital systems today.

Organizations therefore face a growing need to understand their exposure, assess risks, define migration strategies, and demonstrate resilience against future quantum-enabled threats. In this environment, independent assessment can help organizations demonstrate readiness, strengthen Digital Trust, and build confidence across increasingly interconnected supply chains.

From Readiness to Independent Assurance

Through this collaboration, IBM plans to contribute its expertise in cryptographic discovery, post-quantum migration, and crypto-agile architectures. DEKRA will provide independent TIC services, enabling organizations to validate and demonstrate their level of quantum readiness through trusted third-party assurance. Together, the two organizations aim to create a transparent and practical framework for Quantum Safe Assurance, helping organizations move from preparation to independently verified readiness.

“The collaboration with IBM reflects exactly the kind of forward-looking partnership that supports our mission of building trust in an increasingly connected and digital world,” says Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO of DEKRA. “Cryptography is one of the invisible foundations of modern society. As we move toward the post-quantum era, organizations will need more than technical solutions. They will need confidence that their systems remain secure, resilient, and trusted. Independent assurance will play a critical role in enabling that confidence.”

Fernando Hardasmal, DEKRA Executive Vice President and Head of Digital & Product Solutions, adds: “Quantum readiness is no longer a long-term research topic, but a strategic business priority. By combining IBM’s expertise with DEKRA’s independent services, we offer organizations a credible, end-to-end pathway to becoming quantum safe.”

Shaping the Future of Quantum Safe Assurance

“Quantum computing has the potential to be a strategic cybersecurity risk with far-reaching consequences for all industries. While post-quantum cryptography standards are now available and quantum-safe capabilities are already being introduced into key technologies and protocols, organizations need a practical way to assess readiness, refine existing & new solutions, and demonstrate progress,” explains Antti Ropponen, Executive Partner, EMEA CyberDefend and Quantum Safe Transformation Services Leader at IBM. “By combining IBM’s quantum-safe expertise with DEKRA’s global assurance and certification leadership, we can help accelerate the adoption of trusted, independently validated quantum-safe practices across the industries that underpin the modern economy."

Beyond the aim to support individual organizations, DEKRA and IBM intend to contribute to the broader development of Quantum Safe Assurance by defining practical readiness, support the development of assessment methodologies and assurance frameworks aligned with emerging standards and best practices. The joint initiative is designed to help establish a common understanding of what trustworthy post-quantum readiness means in practice – for organizations, products, and increasingly interconnected digital ecosystems.

More information: https://www.dekra.com/en/digital-trust-services/