Quantum-safe networks

Conventional computers are based on the concept that electrical signals can be in one of two states: on or off, which is traditionally expressed in ones and zeroes. These binary ones and zeros have powered everything from the earliest punch-card computers to today’s smart devices. But until now, there’s been a limit to how powerful computers can be.

Quantum computers are based on the principles of quantum mechanics, which allow for many states between on and off. They do not run on ones and zeroes, they run on electrons and photons. They are also not limited to one state at a time. This means they can perform tasks exponentially faster than binary computers and can also carry out multiple processes at once, further increasing their capacity and speed. Quantum computers can solve problems or break data encryptions in mere minutes that would have taken even the biggest conventional supercomputers thousands of years to compute.

Quantum technologies can offer significant benefits to enterprises and critical infrastructure operators, here are just a few examples: 

• Power utilities and transportation networks can better predict weather, track demand patterns and compute their effect on capacity demands
• Defense operations can use quantum sensing and analytics to improve reconnaissance, surveillance and deep-sea navigation
• Public safety can benefit from more advance notice of climate events and better model risk scenarios
• Research and Education Networks (RENs) can make complex calculations that were previously impossible, accelerating key breakthroughs
• In the Mining and natural resources industry, companies can more accurately determine the best places to drill for key resources with the least environmental impact
• Financial services and market analyst organizations can better model trends and model investment data
• Telecommunications can benefit from advanced network and traffic modeling to better serve their customers

Quantum-safe networks are designed to be secure and trusted even against attacks from the threats posed by Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computers (CRQC). Quantum-safe networks use quantum-safe cryptography that are secure even in the presence of powerful quantum computers.

Key ingredients of Quantum-Safe Networks are:

• Cryptographic Keys
• Key distribution
• Network encryption

Quantum-safe cryptographic keys should support the application of both classical and quantum physics, as well mathematical Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) keys once they are available.

The Quantum-safe cryptographic keys can be distributed using:

Symmetric centralized key distribution (SCKD) is a way of sending decryption keys separately from encrypted data, making it harder for threat actors to acquire both pieces required to access the data. This technology is available right now and has been in use for several years.

Quantum keys, transmitted through a quantum key distribution (QKD) network, are now in development. Using the physical properties of photons rather than math problems for encryption, it becomes possible to detect the presence of any third party trying to intercept the key — for an additional layer of security against quantum hacking.

Public Key Cryptography (PKC) with evolution of Public Key Infrastructures (PKI) with the availability of the mathematical Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) keys.

A quantum-safe ecosystem will include all three of these approaches, matched with the appropriate Quantum-Safe network encryption, as well as other technologies as the quantum landscape evolves.

Critical industries and service providers are accelerating the digitalization of their operations and in turn are reaping the benefits of business agility and continuity, productivity efficiencies, and sustainability. As organizations see convergence of OT and IT systems or move from manual to digital systems, adding complexity or distributed network functions, they also increase the potential attack surface for malicious actors.

So what do we do? Digitalization is how progress will happen; we can’t — and won’t — ‘put the genie back into the bottle’. Fortunately, modernized networks not only bring the benefits of digital innovation — future-forward solutions also carry with them inherently robust defense-in-depth mechanisms that protect against the cybersecurity threats of today and tomorrow.

Critical infrastructure and service providers don’t have to wait. They can begin choosing quantum-safe networking technology as they architect their digital transformation and move their foundational networks to modernized technologies that adopt a defense-in-depth, quantum-safe network approach.