Quantum cryptography, now and in the future

The latest research from Toshiba reveals that over half (52%) of businesses in Europe listed data security as a top three investment priority for the year ahead. Despite this, businesses often fall behind in keeping themselves aware and ahead of cyber-security trends and developments.

It is widely considered today that public key encryption is an essential part of data security, but that's being challenged by new attack strategies and the emergence of quantum computers that will ultimately render much of today's encryption unsafe. Today's security challenges and tomorrow's security fears are driving the adoption of reliable quantum cryptography, which provides a secure means for generating and distributing secret keys between two parties on an optical network.

While not yet commercially available, scientists are now at the stage of being able to deploy the technology and demonstrate its benefits. Toshiba's Cambridge Research Laboratory recently published a paper explaining a breakthrough made using a protocol known as Twin-Field QKD, extending the range of QKD to over 500 kilometres of standard telecom fibre, opening up the potential for secure communication between cities such as London, Paris, Dublin, Manchester and Amsterdam.

Unlike other existing security solutions, quantum cryptography is secure from all future advances in mathematics and computing, even from the number crunching abilities of a quantum computer. Standardisation of QKD protocols remains essential for commercialised quantum cryptography. The need to enable interoperability of technologies, develop the components market as well as processes and technology, will reduce the costs of creation and deployment of QKD and see the commencement of a more secure future for all of us.

To see further insights, click on the link below:

https://www.toshiba-clip.com/en/detail/7014