Exclusive: DigiCert's CEO emphasises quantum readiness

DigiCert's CEO Amit Sinha has highlighted the importance of digital trust, the company's growth trajectory, and how advancements like quantum computing and artificial intelligance (AI) are reshaping the cybersecurity landscape.

Sinha shared his insights into DigiCert's core services and future outlook. The company is renowned globally for its digital trust solutions, serving over 100,000 customers worldwide, including 70% of companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

"Digital trust is foundational infrastructure that makes sure all of these daily interactions that we do online, whether between individuals and businesses or businesses themselves, are secure and trustworthy," Sinha explained.

DigiCert's services are the key to maintaining the security of various online interactions, such as banking transactions, encrypted communications, and software legitimacy.

"There's a lot of innovation, a lot of customer momentum, lots of new leadership, along with tail winds coming from post-quantum cryptography, generative AI and all of these trust problems that we see rampant across our customer base."

"We are a sizable business with over 100,000 customers globally and about 6,000 in Australia. The New Zealand (NZ) market is one of our fastest-growing regions," noted Sinha. He emphasised DigiCert's commitment to innovation, with 32 patents filed last year, and an expanding product portfolio."

At the heart of DigiCert's offerings is its role as a certificate authority. "A certificate authority validates that a website or destination, and now extends to users, devices, and servers, are indeed who they say they are," Sinha said. DigiCert's digital certificates act like passports in the digital world, ensuring secure interactions.

The DigiCert ONE platform manages the certificates throughout their lifecycle, providing automation to ensure they are renewed and valid.

Sinha highlighted the industries that heavily rely on DigiCert's solutions, including FinTech, healthcare, government, and technology. "In the NZ region, we are very big in FinTech, with 93% of banks globally using DigiCert. Healthcare also relies on us for protecting patient records, ensuring privacy and security," he told TechDay.

DigiCert's solutions extend beyond traditional digital certificates to include software trust services and device authentication. Sinha explained, "Just like you trust a web server, how do you trust a piece of software or a device? DigiCert provides the necessary certificates and services to establish this trust."

Addressing the future, Sinha emphasized the importance of preparing for quantum computing. "Quantum computers can solve complex math problems that current computers can't, posing a threat to current cryptographic standards. DigiCert is actively working on post-quantum cryptography to ensure continued digital trust," he said.

DigiCert is leading initiatives like the World Quantum Readiness Day on September 26, 2024, to raise awareness and prepare organizations for this transition.

Generative AI also poses new challenges, particularly in verifying the authenticity of media and content. "How do I know that a video hasn't been altered or deep-faked? DigiCert is working with industry standards to ensure content provenance, providing cryptographic mechanisms to verify the source and integrity of media," Sinha explained.

Discussing the company's channel strategy, Sinha emphasized DigiCert's strong partnerships.

"We are extremely channel-friendly and rely on our partners to deliver our services to a broader audience," he said. "We have a global channel partner program, providing enablement sessions and shared success models."

Reflecting on DigiCert's growth and future, Sinha expressed confidence in the company's trajectory. "We are going through a digital trust renaissance. With new leadership, expanded products, and a focus on post-quantum cryptography and generative AI, we are well-positioned to disrupt and solve the digital trust challenges of today."

DigiCert's relentless focus on customer obsession, innovation, and execution sets it apart in the cybersecurity landscape. As Sinha succinctly put it, "DigiCert is the leading provider of digital trust for the real world."

In a rapidly evolving digital environment, DigiCert's proactive approach to emerging technologies and its unwavering commitment to security and trust make it a critical player in safeguarding the digital interactions that define modern life.