What Will Quantum Computing Mean for Those in the Security Business?

March 27, 2016

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March 27, 2016 – Practical programmable quantum computers are closer to reality than ever. Whether we are talking about D-Wave, the British Columbia company that has sold quantum devices to Google, NASA and others, or recent inventions such as the five-qubit programmable module developed at University of Maryland, we are seeing all kinds of pronouncements about the dawning of a new age of computing.

Quantum logic and quantum algorithms have been the stuff of physics labs to date. Quantum computers have progressed from one qubit to two and three with the biggest challenge being getting them to scale to a point where they are practical for commercial use. The University Maryland’s five-qubit programmable module uses ion trap quantum architecture (see illustration below) and its inventors state it can scale by connecting a number of individual modules together. Not yet demonstrated this would be the logical next step to creating a commercial device.

On the other hand, D-Wave’s latest quantum processor, seen in the image below, makes the University of Maryland efforts seem passe. The company’s latest model claims to break the 1,000 qubit mark although many physicists including those at Maryland are skeptical. But not the folks at Google and NASA who have upgraded from 512 qubits to this new processing capability. D-Wave intends to keep making upgrades to these systems in strategic partnership with its users at University of Southern California, NASA, Google and Lockheed Martin.

It would seem, therefore, that existing computing technology will face a challenge from quantum processors and their amazing potential. As quantum computing approaches a threshold where it will serve commercial applications and become widely distributed, the National Security Agency (NSA) of the United States is voicing its concern that existing security and encryption standards will prove inadequate as a defense against quantum computing purchasers with malevolence on their minds. In other words, once quantum computers are being used not by a few, but by many, the NSA believes any secrets protected by current best encryption standards will no longer be secret.

The truth is, today, no one knows how to make quantum-computer-proof encryption. And as quantum computers scale to millions or hundreds of millions of qubits, any current computer and current software will be vulnerable.

Google, IBM, Microsoft and NSA are cognizant of the importance of developing cryptographic keys that even a 100-million qubit quantum devices cannot break. In their pursuit of developing commercial quantum computing circuits it is, therefore, clear that a window of vulnerability exists now as the technology scales up.