Impact over metrics: Turing and the ultimate contribution of cryptology

Abstract Amongst his many lasting contributions, Alan Turing’s name is strongly linked to the domain of cryptology, particularly due to his pioneering wartime work in cryptanalysis. However, the fact that his work remained classified until many years later has arguably limited its wider influence on the science of cryptology. Nonetheless, while his research was never able to be properly referenced until many years later, its resulting impact is arguably greater than much that followed it. This article summarizes Turing’s crypto work and considers his contribution from this perspective.