Messaging Layer Security

At Phoenix R&D, we are passionate about enhancing the security and privacy of digital communications. Our approach is to get involved in specification work to design standards that impact technology globally, develop implementations to turn those standards into working software code, and finally building applications on top of those standards.

Our contributions to Messaging Layer Security

Our CEO Raphael Robert co-initiated and co-authored the IETF standard Messaging Layer Security (MLS). Working alongside other organizations, we identified the critical need for an open standard for end-to-end encryption. Over five years of collaboration with the MLS IETF working group, we successfully combined cutting-edge academic proposals with real-world industry requirements.

The protocol has proven its effectiveness in large-scale deployments, with major companies including Cisco, Discord, Google, and RingCentral already integrating MLS into their products, serving millions of users worldwide.

Why MLS matters

MLS represents a significant advancement over existing protocols by offering:

• Superior efficiency with O(log n) complexity instead of O(n), making it ideal for large groups

• Enhanced security through the new concept of Group Integrity

• Improved data synchronization across distributed systems

• Extensibility to accommodate various application needs

• Future-proofing through version and cipher suite agility, including post-quantum capabilities

OpenMLS: Our reference implementation

Based on the MLS protocol, we develop and maintain OpenMLS, one of the reference implementations. OpenMLS is:

• Written entirely in Rust for maximum security and performance

• Licensed permissively under MIT to ensure broad accessibility

• Designed for integration into various messaging applications

Learn more

For a comprehensive understanding of MLS, its applications, and significance, read our detailed blog post "RFC 9420 aka Messaging Layer Security (MLS) – An Overview".

Work with us

Our team has been active in the secure messaging field for over a decade. If you're interested in implementing MLS or using OpenMLS in your application, contact us to discuss how we can support your project through:

• Consulting services for MLS and messaging architecture

• Development services related to MLS or OpenMLS

• Contract research for your most cutting-edge problems

• Custom solutions for your specific security needs