What’s next for quantum computing and cybersecurity?

We’ve been hearing about upcoming breakthroughs with quantum computing technology for several years, so what’s the latest in the world?

03 July 2022 •

A CNBC headline last month caught my eye: The race for new computer technology is heating up – and Asia is jumping on the trend.

I immediately wanted to know: What technology?

The answer came in the first summary bullet point: “Japan has made key strides in the quantum computing race, India has developed its own strategy for the technology, and debates are swirling over whether China has passed the United States on certain fronts”.

WHY QUANTUM COMPUTING?

Here is an excerpt: “Last week, the Washington Post wrote that the American hatches plan to build a quantum internet that might be impossible to hack. The new network would complement the existing web, providing a more secure way to send and process information. »

So why am I so intrigued by this topic? As I quoted from the Department of Energy (DOE) in 2020, “A quantum internet “would rely on the laws of quantum mechanics to control and transmit information more securely than ever before,” according to the DOE. The department’s 17 national laboratories will work on the secure network, which could be used for science, industry and national security.

Meanwhile, two weeks ago, Brookings.edu published this article on “How U.S. policymakers can enable breakthroughs in quantum science”: “The field of quantum information science and technology (QIST) is on the cusp of a series of breakthroughs that could finally bring quantum technology – and the great benefits it is likely to bring – into the main stream. But QIST’s progress is fragile, and sustaining this progress requires investment and coordination from the US government and a continued policy of openness to the scientists who will achieve these breakthroughs. …

“Just as federal investments from the 1960s through the 1980s incubated the breakthrough technologies that made today’s Internet possible, American policymakers now have the opportunity to facilitate major advances in quantum computing – and to make them as widely available as possible.As with the Internet, the development of a quantum Internet and associated systems like quantum computers and quantum sensors should initially aim to provide new capabilities for scientists and other researchers to make new discoveries To this end, it is important to provide open access to those wishing to use federally funded infrastructure for research Private companies have an important role to play in making open platforms available for computing quantum, like that of IBM quantum experiment.”

A more recent piece to highlight just Fed Tech Magazine“Much of the growth in the budget is for activities related to the National Quantum Initiative Act, signed into law in 2018. This includes the creation of quantum consortia by the National Institute of Standards and Technology; Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes by the National Science Foundation; National Quantum Information Science Research Centers by the Department of Energy; and coordinating and strengthening core QIS programs across multiple agencies, according to the report.

QUANTUM COMPUTING AND CYBERSECURITY

Many reports describe the potential impacts of quantum computing on the cyber industry. This article describes how to prepare now for a post-quantum world.

Here is an excerpt: “So how does a company prepare for post-quantum? First, don’t wait for NIST to publish their standard. Now is the time to prepare for the post-quantum. Start by determining what data is most likely to be sought by cybercriminals. …

“Keeping in mind the amount of important/vulnerable data, a strategy should be developed to address the business priorities of using quantum strong encryption. Next, develop your quantum-resistant encryption priorities while planning your infrastructure upgrade for the next few years. »