What is Quantum Computing?

Quantum computing is a quickly developing technology that combines quantum mechanics with advanced mathematics and computer engineering to solve problems that are too complex for classical computers. Because quantum computing operates on fundamentally different principles than classical computing, using fundamentally different machines, Moore’s Law doesn’t apply.

Why Do We Want Quantum Computing?

Quantum computing opens the door for solving variabilities with great nuance in non-traditional ways. Quantum computing scientists see opportunities for great benefits in systems that are highly complicated and involve seemingly random factors, like weather modeling, medicine and chemistry, global finance, commerce and supply transport, cybersecurity, true Artificial Intelligence—and, of course, quantum physics.

What Makes Quantum Computing So Powerful?

Even the fastest and most powerful supercomputers function on brute force calculations. They “try” every possible outcome, in a linear pathway, until one outcome proves the solution. By contrast, quantum computers can “skip over” that linear journey through every pathway by using quantum mechanics to simultaneously consider all possible outcomes. Quantum computing works with probabilities rather than binaries. This form of computing allows for solutions to problems that are too large or too complex to solve in any reasonable time by a classical computer. Where a classical computer can sort through and catalog large amounts of data, it can’t predict behavior within that data.

How Does A Quantum Computer Work?

Superposition At the quantum level, physical systems can exist in multiple states at the same time. Until the system is observed or measured, the system occupies all positions at once. This central principle of quantum mechanics allows quantum computers to work with the potential of the system, where all possible outcomes exist in a computation simultaneously. In the case of quantum computing, the systems used can be photons, trapped ions, atoms, or quasi-particles. Interference Quantum states can interfere with other quantum states. Interference can take the form of canceling out amplitude or boosting amplitude. One way to visualize interference is to think of dropping two stones in a pool of water at the same time. As the waves from each stone cross paths, they will create stronger peaks and valleys in the ripples. These interference patterns allow quantum computers to run algorithms that are entirely different from those of classical computers. Entanglement At the quantum level, systems like particles become enjoined, mirroring the behavior of one another, even at great distances. By measuring the state of one entangled system, a quantum computer can “know” the state of the other system. In practical terms, for example, a quantum computer can know the spin motion of electron B by measuring the spin of electron A, even if electron B is millions of miles away. Qubits In classical computing, calculations are made combinations of binaries known as bits. This is the basis of the limitations of classical computing: calculations are written in a language that can only have one of two states at any given time – 0 or 1. With quantum computing, calculations are written in the language of the quantum state, which can be 0 or 1, or any proportion of 0 or 1 in superposition. This type of computational information is known as a “quantum computer bit,” or Qubit.

How Will Quantum Computers Be Used?

When we look at the application of quantum computing in the real world, it’s important to remember that this is an emerging field. At the moment, quantum computing is very much in its nascent stage, with existing quantum computers that are severely limited by the current state of the art. That said, quantum computing researchers and engineers agree that advancements are outpacing expectations. What we do with quantum computing will certainly change or evolve as the technology develops, but there are already promising areas of application.

When Will Quantum Computers Be Widely Used?

In 2023, IBM, one of the world leaders in quantum computing, announced they had achieved 133-qubit processing with their quantum Heron chip. IBM is working to couple three Heron processors together in 2024. One Heron chip is capable of running 1800 gates, with low error and high performance. IBM has published a roadmap for reaching their goal of error-corrected quantum computing by 2029. The vast majority of quantum experts believe useful quantum computing will be achieved in the commercial space within a decade, if not sooner. Nation states may achieve quantum earlier.

What Are The Security Implications Of Quantum Computing?

Today’s 2048-bit RSA encryption would take the fastest supercomputer roughly 300 trillion years to decrypt. That’s where the threat of quantum computing comes into play. Because quantum computers can analyze all probabilities at once without tracing a linear path, they can effectively “skip over” the one-route-at-a-time method of classical computers and arrive at an accurate calculation in a reasonable amount of time. Quantum computers are perfectly equipped to divide large prime numbers into correct factors, effectively breaking RSA. Predictions about near-future quantum computing suggest RSA encryption can be cracked in months, and more advanced quantum computers may be able to decrypt RSA in hours or even minutes.

What Are The Current Risks?

Cybersecurity experts have focused not only on the threat posed to data in the future, once quantum reaches the point of common usefulness, but also on threats to current data. Harvest now, decrypt later In anticipation of quantum capability, governments and cybercriminals may practice “harvest now, decrypt later.” This is when data is stolen and stored in its encrypted state, hoping that soon, the bad actor can decrypt the stored data when they have access to a usable quantum computer. Even older data may contain parcels of information critical to operations for governments and companies, as well as private information on users, customers, health patients, and more.

What Is Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)?

Post-Quantum Cryptography, known as PQC, is a cryptographic system that protects data against decryption efforts by both classical and quantum computers. While quantum computers are still in their infancy, cybersecurity experts have already created PQC algorithms that can protect against quantum attacks. These security tools will continue to evolve along with quantum computing, but current protections are equipped to stay ahead of quantum threats when properly implemented.

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Note: suggested variants are marked with an asterisk in the dropdown.

CROSS

CROSS is a code-based digital signature scheme based on the restricted syndrome decoding problem.

Start with CROSS-RSDPG-128-BALANCED. It has enough security for most transactions and has the right tradeoff of size and speed.

FALCON

Fast-Fourier Lattice-based Compact Signatures over NTRU (Falcon) is a lattice-based digital signature scheme with small (for PQC) signatures and good performance. It is a bit complicated when it comes to signing so don't sign on devices that are susceptible to side-channel attacks.

Start with FALCON-512. It's small, it's fast, and provides more than enough security for most applications.

ML-DSA

ML-DSA (Module-lattice digital signature algorithm) is a lattice-based digital signature scheme based on the module learning with errors problem. It is standardized by NIST in FIPS 204.

Start with ML-DSA-44. PQC signatures are big so if security allows it, use the smallest one.

SLH-DSA

SLH-DSA (stateless hash-based digital signature algorithm) is a stateless hash-based digital signature scheme based on the difficulty of finding preimages of hash functions. It is standardized by NIST in FIPS 205.

Start with SLH-DSA-SHA2-128s. When a scheme is as conservative but slow as this scheme you might as well use the smallest signature.

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Forrester estimates a composite organization achieved 312% ROI and a Net Present Value of $10.1M with the ������ ONE platform.

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Test drive the latest quantum ready certificates with ������ Labs. Use the latest standards and algorithms. Learn how to go from concept to deployment.

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Forrester estimates a composite organization achieved 312% ROI and a Net Present Value of $10.1M with the �� ONE platform.

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Test drive the latest quantum ready certificates with �� Labs. Use the latest standards and algorithms. Learn how to go from concept to deployment.

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