Imagine a world where cybercriminals can crack encryption in just seconds that once took centuries to break or where the most secure data vaults are left wide open to attacks. This is the potential threat posed by quantum computing.
While quantum computing promises breakthroughs in sectors, such as healthcare and finance, its ability to perform calculations far beyond today’s high-performance computers also presents significant cybersecurity challenges. Quantum computers can process vast amounts of data simultaneously, making current encryption methods vulnerable to rapid decryption.
As with many IT innovations, the rise of quantum computing introduces significant cybersecurity risks. Its unprecedented power could give malicious actors the ability to break current encryption methods. As quantum computing evolves, businesses must start preparing now to protect sensitive data in the post-quantum world.
What Is Quantum Computing?
Quantum computing is a groundbreaking technology that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information in ways traditional computers can’t. While regular computers use bits that are either 0 or 1, quantum computers use qubit, which can be both 0 and 1 at the same time. This unique feature allows quantum computers to perform many calculations at once, making them incredibly powerful for specific tasks.
Another key concept is entanglement, where the state of one qubit is instantly connected to the state of another, no matter how far apart they are. These features enable quantum computers to tackle complex problems, such as cracking encryption, simulating new materials, and optimizing large systems, much faster than current computers. However, large-scale quantum computing is still in its early stages, and many challenges need to be solved before it becomes widely available.
Companies such as Google and IBM have already achieved breakthroughs in quantum computing, signaling a shift in tech capabilities. Currently, cloud-connected quantum computers or hybrid ecosystems are being implemented to explore a variety of advanced use cases.
How Does Quantum Computing Threaten Cybersecurity?
The capabilities of quantum computing are a double-edged sword. While quantum computing enables companies to solve complex problems more quickly, the technology also empowers cybercriminals to break encryption codes.
Quantum computers could render current encryption methods, such as RSA and ECC, obsolete by breaking them in mere seconds compared to years for classical computers. For example, today’s 2048-bit RSA encryption, which is practically impossible for classical computers to crack, could be broken by a quantum computer powerful enough to run Shor’s Algorithm.
Quantum computing poses a major threat to cybersecurity because of its ability to break the encryption methods we rely on today. Right now, most online security — such as encrypted emails, bank transactions, and even government communications — depend on complex mathematical problems that take regular computers a long time to solve. However, quantum computers can solve these problems much faster, meaning they could potentially crack the codes that keep sensitive data safe.
Once quantum computers become powerful enough, hackers could use them to access encrypted information, putting everything from personal data to national security at risk. Hackers can engage in “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks in which they steal and save encrypted data to decrypt once quantum computers are available to them. Research from RAND suggests that quantum computers capable of executing Shor’s Algorithm will be available by the 2030s, rendering many of the encryption techniques used today ineffective. This is why businesses and governments are already starting to think about how to protect data in a future where quantum computers are widely used.
Post-Quantum Cryptography: Preparing for the Future
Steps are already being taken to prepare for the security risks presented by quantum computing. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been working on developing post-quantum cryptography standards that can resist attacks from quantum computers.
NIST is developing algorithms that use mathematical problems that are challenging for both classical and quantum computers to solve. In August 2024, NIST announced the release of the first set of 3 finalized Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) for post-quantum cryptography:
- FIPS 203 as the primary standard for general encryption
- FIPS 204 as the primary standard for protecting digital signatures
- FIPS 205 as the backup method for protecting digital signatures
Other examples of post-quantum cryptographic algorithms include lattice-based cryptography, hash-based signatures, and multivariate quadratic equations.
What’s Being Done to Mitigate Risks?
Technologies are already available to mitigate the risks of quantum computing. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is an emerging technology that uses quantum mechanics to generate and distribute cryptographic keying material for an encryption algorithm to provide confidentiality. QKD essentially future-proofs data against being decrypted by quantum computing.
Hybrid Cryptographic Models combine classical cryptography with quantum-resistant algorithms to ensure gradual, seamless transitions as quantum capabilities evolve. These hybrid models combine symmetric and asymmetric – or public key – encryption. Companies such as IBM and Microsoft are currently exploring hybrid approaches to cryptography.
Real-World Impact on Business and Government
Government agencies and organizations that can benefit from quantum computing need to be concerned about protecting their sensitive data throughout its lifespan. Key industries, such as healthcare, pharmaceutical, and finance, require long-term protection of medical and financial data against significant risks. Data in these industries typically has a long lifespan because it must be retained for auditing purposes or to preserve patient histories.
Sensitive data, such as medical records or state secrets, may need to be protected for decades against “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks. Once quantum computers are capable and available, even old data could be at risk of decryption.
Quantum Safe Networking
Government agencies and corporations are starting to work on quantum-safe protocols and infrastructures to protect against potential future quantum attacks. A key part of these quantum-safe protocols is quantum-safe networking. Quantum-safe networks are needed to protect data, such as bank transfers, from being stolen and being decrypted by quantum computing.
QKD allows organizations to protect data in transit, but it must be integrated into current networking infrastructure. This process can be complicated, as it involves introducing dark fiber alongside the existing network. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is a simpler approach that places many different optical data wavelength channels on the same optic fiber to increase data carrying capacity.
What Should Businesses Do to Prepare?
Now is the time for companies to prepare for the security risks of quantum computing. As with most security risks, staying ahead of the curve is the best strategy. To prepare, your business should perform risk assessments, update your encryption methods, and stay informed about NIST’s post-quantum cryptography recommendations.
Any long-term strategy for defending against quantum computing threats should ensure that your organization aligns security updates with evolving standards so that both cloud infrastructure and on-premises systems are quantum-ready.
ProActive Solutions can help your organization get ready for emerging quantum computing threats by conducting risk assessments to identify your vulnerable assets and evaluate your current methods of encryption. Using our consultative approach, we can work with you on quantum readiness planning by developing steps toward implementing quantum-resistant encryption methods and working with IT vendors to ensure compatibility with post-quantum algorithms.
Want to future-proof your organization against quantum computing threats? Request a consultation from ProActive to start your quantum readiness planning.
