# CIFER Technical Roadmap

> **Version:** 1.0
> **Date:** 2025-12-01

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## Vision

We have built a **zero-key, post-quantum encryption platform** with decentralized custody. The solution is currently live as an MVP and already running with a small number of customers.

To support scalability, security hardening, and broader adoption, we have defined the following roadmap.

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## Phase 1: Core Platform Hardening

### 1.1 TEE Infrastructure
- [ ] Cluster auto-failover & load balancing
- [ ] Geographic distribution of shard nodes
- [ ] Attestation monitoring & alerting

### 1.2 Black Box Service
- [ ] Production deployment with 99.9% uptime target
- [ ] Horizontal scaling with stateless architecture
- [ ] Latency optimization
- [ ] Rate limiting & abuse prevention

### 1.3 SDKs (Create / Encrypt / Decrypt / Delegate)
- [ ] Node.js SDK
- [ ] Python SDK
- [ ] Go SDK

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## Phase 2: Multichain Support

**Goal:** Enable CIFER across multiple blockchains while keeping TEE cluster on Ternoa.

### 2.1 Architecture
- ClusterRegistry: remains on Ternoa (single source of truth for TEE state)
- SecretsController: deployed per chain (Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, etc.)
- Dual-layer validation: both Black Box and Shard Nodes verify permissions

### 2.2 Deliverables
- [ ] New payload format: `chainId_secretId_signerAddress_blockNumber`
- [ ] Multi-chain RPC client in Black Box
- [ ] Node-side multichain validation
- [ ] SecretsController deployment scripts per chain
- [ ] Chain-specific fee configuration

### 2.3 Rollout Order
1. Testnets (Sepolia, Mumbai)
2. Polygon Mainnet
3. Ethereum Mainnet
4. Additional EVM chains

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## Phase 3: Database Protection Module

**Goal:** Transparent field-level encryption with zero-key UX.

### 3.1 Architecture
- Application-side encryption via ORM adapters
- Versioned DEKs (Data Encryption Keys) issued by Black Box
- Local AES-256-GCM for hot-path performance
- Envelope format: `{version, secret_id, key_version, iv, ct, tag, aad}`

### 3.2 Deliverables
- [ ] Black Box key issuance endpoints (`/keys/active`, `/keys/{version}`)
- [ ] `@cifer/sdk` — DEK cache, AES-GCM, envelope encoding
- [ ] Prisma adapter (encrypt/decrypt hooks)
- [ ] PostgreSQL driver wrapper
- [ ] Mongoose plugin (MongoDB)
- [ ] Migration tools for existing plaintext data

### 3.3 Targets
- Integration time: <1 hour
- Overhead: microseconds per field (local AES)
- Supported: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL

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## Phase 4: AI Protection Module

**Goal:** Protect AI queries, responses, and model weights with CIFER encryption.

### 4.1 AI Data Encryption
- [ ] Model weight protection (PyTorch, TensorFlow, ONNX)
- [ ] Training data encryption (tabular, images)
- [ ] Streaming encryption for large models (64MB chunks)
- [ ] Inference logging protection

### 4.2 AI Inference Privacy (CIFER AI Proxy)
- [ ] TEE-hosted proxy between clients and AI backends
- [ ] End-to-end encrypted queries/responses
- [ ] Encrypted conversation storage
- [ ] JavaScript & Python AI client SDKs

### 4.3 Protocol

Client → Encrypt query → CIFER AI Proxy (TEE) → Plaintext to AI → Encrypt response → Client

- Encryption overhead target: <500ms total
- Conversation history: encrypted at rest, decryptable only by CIFER owner

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## Phase 5: Security Audits

### 5.1 Scope
- [ ] TEE enclave code (Black Box, Shard Nodes)
- [ ] Smart contracts (ClusterRegistry, SecretsController)
- [ ] Cryptographic protocols (ML-KEM, Shamir, HKDF)
- [ ] SDK implementations
- [ ] API security & authentication

### 5.2 Process
- Internal security review before each phase release
- External audit by reputable firm before mainnet
- Bug bounty program post-launch
- Penetration testing on infrastructure

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## Phase 6: Open Source & Decentralization

### 6.1 Open Source Milestones
- [ ] SDKs (MIT license)
- [ ] Smart contracts (open, verified on block explorers)
- [ ] Protocol specification (public documentation)
- [ ] Reference implementations
- [ ] TEE node software (for operator transparency)

### 6.2 Decentralization Milestones
- [ ] Permissionless node registration (with stake)
- [ ] Multiple independent cluster operators
- [ ] On-chain governance for protocol parameters
- [ ] Decentralized Black Box selection
- [ ] Community-run infrastructure incentives

### 6.3 Transparency
- [ ] Public attestation verification tools
- [ ] Real-time cluster health dashboard
- [ ] Open audit reports
- [ ] Protocol upgrade proposals (public)

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## Technical Timeline

| Quarter | Focus |
|---------|-------|
| **Q1 2026** | Core hardening, SDKs, first security audit |
| **Q2 2026** | Multichain (Polygon, Ethereum) |
| **Q3 2026** | Database module (Prisma, PostgreSQL) |
| **Q4 2026** | AI module (data encryption, inference proxy) |
| **Q1 2027** | TEE-based secure inference, decentralized node operators |
| **Q2 2027** | Full open source release, on-chain governance |

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## Success Criteria

| Metric | Target |
|--------|--------|
| Encryption latency | <100ms |
| Decryption latency | <200ms |
| System uptime | 99.9% |
| Chains supported | 3+ |
| Security audits passed | 2+ external |
| Open source components | 100% of SDKs & contracts |
| Independent node operators | 5+ |

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## Cryptographic Foundations

| Component | Standard |
|-----------|----------|
| Key Encapsulation | ML-KEM-768 (NIST FIPS 203) |
| Secret Sharing | Shamir (3-of-5 threshold) |
| Symmetric Encryption | AES-256-GCM |
| Key Derivation | HKDF-SHA256 |
| Execution Environment | Intel SGX / AMD SEV / AWS Nitro |