Assessing Security of Encrypted Messaging Applications (ASEMA)
SBIR Opportunity Analysis
The Department of Defense, through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is seeking innovative proposals for the Assessing Security of Encrypted Messaging Applications (ASEMA) initiative, aimed at enhancing the security of Secure Messaging Applications (SMAs) against Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups. The primary objectives include modeling the attack surfaces of SMAs, developing frameworks for identifying security boundaries, and creating tools to evaluate the security features of these applications, with a focus on the application code rather than solely on cryptographic protocols. Given the widespread use of SMAs for secure communications, this initiative is critical for understanding and mitigating security risks associated with these platforms. Proposals for this Direct to Phase II (DP2) solicitation are due by April 1, 2026, with further details available at the official DARPA SBIR website.