Quantum Xchange Provides Insights on the RAND Corporation Report “Securing Communications in the Quantum Computing Age”
(QuantumXC.com) Quantum Xchange analyzes the RAND Corporation’s recent report, “Securing Communications in the Quantum Computing Age” and provides comments.
There was quite a bit Quantum Xchanged agreed with in the report. RAND is repeating what Quantum Xchanges have been saying for years: the quantum threat to secure communications is urgent, but if we start to prepare now, there’s no need to panic.
The primary shortfall was the omission of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) as part of the solution to build crypto-agility into our systems. As the report steps through its assessments and recommendations, it focuses solely on Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) as the means of securing our communications. But this leaves out a critical piece of the comprehensive approach needed to prepare us for a quantum future. Quantum Xchange believes that most organizations will need a layered approach to quantum security — one that leverages both PQC and QKD for maximum security. Therefore, we believe that a defense-in-depth strategy is needed to combat the quantum threat and crypto-agility essential to quantum readiness.
RAND’s points that the threat is urgent and that we need to raise awareness of that threat are well taken. QKD Needs to be Part of the Equation.
RAND recognizes, as Quantum Xchange, that the government is the key driver for change. The report makes valid recommendations for our executive and legislative branches: prioritize the threat; coordinate among key entities to raise awareness of the issue.
unlike the threat from COVID-19, which caught the world by surprise, many of us are already aware of the threat posed by quantum computers. As the RAND report highlights, though, we need to raise the awareness of this urgent threat. Adding to that urgency is the prospect of an even greater demand for secure communications in light of the COVID-19-driven increase in telework and remote operations. There has never been a better time to prepare for a quantum-safe future.
