Emerging Technologies: The Future of Security or a Security Nightmare?

By: Rebecca Krauthamer, CPO, QuSecure 

As we move further into the 21st century, emerging technologies are becoming more and more commonplace. These technologies hold great promise for the future but also come with a host of new security risks. In this blog post, we will explore the potential of post-quantum cybersecurity and how businesses can best protect themselves against the dangers posed by these new advances in quantum computing technologies. 

The Importance of Quantum Computing to National Security  

Quantum computers are incredibly powerful machines that can perform calculations at speeds far beyond those of traditional computers. This increased computational power opens a new world of possibilities but also poses a severe threat to national security. Quantum computers could break currently unbreakable encryption codes, allowing hackers and hostile nations to access sensitive information. 

Quantum computing is powerful because it can solve complex problems in ways traditional computers cannot. For example, quantum algorithms create multidimensional spaces where patterns linking individual data points emerge. This makes quantum computing immensely valuable for businesses and organizations seeking a competitive edge.  However, it also presents a serious security risk. 

To date, quantum computers have not been used to break encryption codes. However, businesses and governments are already taking steps to protect themselves against the threat posed by quantum computing. One way they are doing this is by implementing post-quantum cryptography. The great news is that you don’t need a quantum computer to fight against a quantum computer; we can use classical math and software. 

QuSecure focuses on developing cryptographic solutions that quantum computers can’t break.  We do this by offering solutions that adapt using cryptographic agility to new post-quantum cryptographic algorithms to ensure your data is secure against any potential threat. QuSecure’s platform QuProtect simplifies quantum defenses by offering plug-and-play end-to-end network encryption with crypto agility. Depending on what’s best for the situation, whether it’s lattice-based cryptography, hash trees, multivariate equations, and super-singular isogeny elliptic curves, we allow cybersecurity leaders control over where and how they leverage cryptographic algorithms.  

QuSecure, as a SBIR Phase III award recipient, is working with our government to improve our national security by using algorithms identified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). After four rounds of evaluation, NIST has selected the new quantum resilient cryptography standards for a post-RSA world.  

The United States plans to continue its significant investments in quantum science and quantum computing to be a leader in the international quest to develop these technologies of the future. In recognition that the time to take quantum seriously is sooner rather than later, the US made history in the first half of 2022 when the White House issued two executive memos mandating that government agencies move to upgrade their instances of vulnerable cryptography to cryptosystems that will withstand quantum computing attacks.  

As quantum computers become more powerful, the risk they pose to national security increases, businesses and governments must take steps to protect themselves against the threat.