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Highlights taken by ZDNET
- Quantum is almost here, but organizations aren’t ready.
- Experts urge moving from 128-bit to 256-bit encryption ASAP.
- Another looming problem: quantum capabilities.
Quantum computing makes our future bright. Quantum computing makes our future more dangerous. In the quantum spirit, both states can be true at the same time.
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IT professionals now face tough choices as they envision, evaluate, or even begin preparing for the coming quantum revolution — and tough deadlines. Powerful systems will process in hours or minutes what once took years to process, and these improvements are coming soon to a business near you. But with that change comes serious security issues.
It is not ready for business
At least a dozen manufacturers “now sell more than 40 quantum processing units (QPUs), which are quantum computing hardware,” according to MIT’s latest Quantum Index report. In addition, the “quantum-as-a-service model” enables widespread access to quantum computing resources.
Still, quantum is not quite ready for business, MIT researchers say: “Although there have been dramatic improvements in performance, QPUs have not yet met the requirements for running large-scale commercial applications such as chemical simulations or cryptanalysis.”
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We have not yet reached the point “where quantum computers can solve problems faster than classical computers alone,” suggests a study from the IBM Institute for Business Value. “Adapting operations, infrastructure, and interoperability as conditions change is a prerequisite for preparing for the future.”
So far, early use cases include complex molecular interactions and medicine: “The impact will follow in areas such as the supply chain and logistics, where the power of quantum development can redefine how goods move around the world.”
Building the best defense
Although the quantum effect may be feared for a few years, security should be considered today. Quantum, by being able to process thousands of attempts at once, will be able to bypass most of today’s encryption algorithms and data stores. Tim Steward, chief architect of Fujitsu’s data business, and author of The PostgreSQL Field Guide, warned at a recent data conference: “You think that if something is encrypted, you’re going to be very secure. That’s not the case anymore.”
Quantum energy is measured in qubits. All 10 qubits support 1,024 calculations, which gives hackers 1,024 times the power to break encryption in one hit, Steward pointed out. There are now machines with up to 6,100 qubits, and this number is growing.
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The best defense is to move from 126-bit to 256-bit encryption as soon as possible, as recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This change could help protect encryption algorithms from quantum hacking for at least the next two decades, Steward said. He said companies should reevaluate their encryption and security strategies with this approach in mind: “Be proactive. Clearly define encryption goals. Help your organizations recognize the limitations of your encryption environment.”
Estimates suggest that “by the end of this decade, a cryptographically compatible quantum computer will be able to break the encryption that supports our global economy,” warned Anand Oswal, senior vice president of network security at Palo Alto Networks, on CXOTalk hosted by Michael Krigsman.
Reversal of cryptographic algorithms
“Governments around the world have started taking drastic measures,” said Oswal. “The EU Commission has announced plans to launch a quantum-secure communication network by 2030.” Other programs, such as the CNSA 2.0 directive issued by the US National Security Agency, went into effect last year.
In addition, algorithms like RSA and ECC will be “legally deprecated,” Oswal predicted. “Their use will be discouraged and flagged by many compliance tools. By 2035, these vulnerable encryption methods will be outlawed in most systems. That’s a tough stop. After this date, any system that relies on them will be considered non-compliant and fundamentally insecure by the world’s largest security standards.”
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This problem should not be pushed into the future, Oswal emphasized. “Companies may be behind schedule if we look at the reality of migration times,” he said. “Large-scale cryptographic migrations are notoriously time-consuming. Historical data from previous changes show that this can take five to ten years for a large, complex enterprise to complete. And with legacy applications, and think about IoT and OT devices with embedded firmware, the upgrade may not be possible at all.”
Skills issues and business benefits
Another important issue is that skills can also become scarce as the quantum grows. Data cited in the MIT report showed the demand for quantum skills has almost tripled since 2018. Opportunities range from highly specialized jobs — debugging scientists or quantum algorithm developers — to jobs that require a range of skills, most of which are unrelated to value, such as business development for quantum computing.
The bright side of quantum computing is its adoption as a corporate computing resource, which cannot be underestimated. At least 82% of AI startup CEOs are already collaborating with partners in one or more quantum ecosystems to access complementary capabilities, reduce risk, and accelerate learning, according to IBM research. Almost half (46%) of CEOs already have a team in place to identify specific quantum use cases.
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CEOs in the IBM study said they expect quantum’s biggest benefits to come from improving performance and speeding up complex simulations. AI is also expected to benefit, and quantum is expected to pave the way for new business ideas. Here’s where research suggests CEOs expect quantum computing to deliver the greatest business value:
- Improving operations, planning, or resource allocation (48%)
- Accelerating complex simulations (45%)
- Developing AI and machine learning capabilities (39%)
- Exploring entirely new business models or services (37%)
- Improving cybersecurity or encryption capabilities (32%)
- Improving research and product development times (30%)
Business leaders should begin exploring quantum opportunities and problems with “a small, collaborative team with a six-month mandate to identify meaningful value use cases, simulate value, and engage ecosystem partners,” IBM researchers advise. Additionally, they should start focusing on near-term technical decisions about quantum computing: “Prioritize hybrid infrastructure, physical data structures, and AI systems that can experiment with emerging computing models without major rework.”
