Quantum Safe Cryptography (QSC), another name for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), describes cryptographic techniques that are resistant to quantum computer assaults. Public key-based encryption, sometimes referred to as asymmetric cryptography, will someday be broken by quantum computers. Everything from your bank transactions to your internet chats is protected by public key-based cryptography.
Because quantum computing poses a serious security risk, post-quantum/quantum-safe cryptography must be used to protect infrastructure and applications. Everything you need to know about the new algorithms created to defend against attacks by quantum computers is covered in this blog.
Quantum Computing: What is it?
In order to answer some kinds of complex problems more quickly than traditional computers, quantum computing makes use of quantum mechanics. It may be possible to solve problems in days that currently take the most powerful supercomputer years to solve.
As a result, quantum computers may provide the processing power needed to advance fields like artificial intelligence. In the near future, powerful quantum computers will be a reality. Although they have numerous advantages, they also pose a serious security risk.
Why do Quantum Computers Pose a Risk to Security?
Conventional asymmetric cryptography techniques for key exchange and digital signatures will be compromised once quantum computers are powerful enough.
By using Shor’s algorithm, quantum computers will be able to significantly lower the security of factorization-based schemes like RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) and discrete logarithm-based methods like Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), to the point where no appropriate key size will be sufficient to maintain data security. Everything from our bank accounts to our medical information is protected by the algorithms ECC and RSA.
This quantum threat and the challenge of protecting vital infrastructure from quantum computer assaults have been acknowledged by governments, researchers, and IT leaders worldwide.
What is Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)?
Key encapsulation mechanisms (KEMs) and new digital signatures are required to defend hardware and data against quantum assaults. Around the world, numerous projects have been started to create and implement new cryptographic algorithms that are extremely resilient to both traditional and quantum assaults and can take the place of RSA and ECC. These cryptographic algorithms are known as post-quantum cryptography (PQC) since they are made to resist quantum computer attacks.
Is Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) the Same as Quantum Safe Cryptography?
Yes, post-quantum cryptography is sometimes known as quantum-safe cryptography. Both speak of cryptography techniques that are resistant to quantum computer attacks. Quantum-proof cryptography and Quantum-Resistant Cryptography are other terms you may encounter.
If quantum computers are not yet ready for a while, then why should we consider this matter as critical and act upon it right away?
Data gathering is happening at present, and quantum computers that are capable of dismantling public key systems may still be very far in the future. There are already reports that criminals are collecting encrypted messages and storing them, waiting for the day when quantum computers will be able to surpass our present encryption methods. This tactic is referred to as “harvest now, decrypt later”.
Moreover, the requirement to protect private or confidential information now so that quantum attacks will not be a threat in the future is rapidly turning into a general scenario since the life span of such info could be several years or even decades. Besides, the development time is long for a lot of products, processors being one of them. Implementing quantum-safe cryptography should be done as early as possible, and this is because security testing, certification, and existing infrastructure deployment could take years.
How far along is the development of new PQC algorithms?
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Department of Commerce initiated the largest public effort to create and standardize new PQC algorithms. Global groups of cryptographers proposed algorithms, evaluated them, broke some, and increased trust in the security of others.
The first PQC algorithms chosen for standardization were revealed by NIST on July 5, 2022, following several evaluation rounds. The digital signature algorithms CRYSTALS-Dilithium, FALCON, and SPHINCS+ were substituted, together with CRYSTALS-Kyber, which was selected as a Key Encapsulation Mechanism (KEM).
NIST published three draft standards on general-purpose quantum-safe cryptography on August 24, 2023.
These are the draft standards:
- The CRYSTALS-Kyber mechanism, which was previously the chosen one, is the basis for the FIPS 203 ML-KEM: Module-Lattice-Based Key Encapsulation Mechanism Standard.
- The CRYSTALS-Dilithium signature scheme, which was previously selected, is the basis for the FIPS 204 ML-DSA: Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Standard.
- The SPHINCS+ signature scheme, which was previously chosen, is the basis for the FIPS 205 SLH-DSA: Stateless Hash-Based Digital Signature Standard.
What Suggestions Does CNSA 2.0 Have Regarding the Switch to PQC Algorithms?
In September 2022, the National Security Agency (NSA) released CNSA 2.0, an update to its Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite (CNSA).
By 2033, National Security Systems (NSS) must make the complete switch to PQC algorithms, while some use cases may need to be finished as early as 2030. In addition to stateful hash-based signature schemes XMSS (eXtended Merkle Signature Scheme) and LMS (Leighton-Micali Signatures), CNSA 2.0 mandates the usage of CRYSTALS-Kyber and CRYSTALS-Dilithium as quantum-resistant algorithms.
Other organizations worldwide are expected to follow suit with their own rules, since CNSA 2.0 lays out an ambitious schedule for the implementation of PQC algorithms.
How Can Businesses Prepare for the Era of Quantum Computing?
- Recognize the locations in your goods where vulnerable cryptography, such as RSA or ECC, is used.
- Examine how a PQC shift will affect your products’ performance and what makes sense for your product strategy.
- Establish the transition dates your items should observe.
- Communicate with your suppliers and customers to ensure that the plans and expectations are in harmony.
- Identify the areas in your company’s infrastructure and operations where weak cryptography, such as RSA or ECC, is applied.
- Consult security experts like Rambus to get guidance on implementing quantum-safe cryptography.
Conclusion
To sum up, the adoption of post-quantum cryptography is a necessity that has to be considered for the present and not for some distant future. It is high time to prepare, as there is a strong possibility that a quantum computer will be able to break the current encryption standards very soon.
The transition towards a quantum-safe universe, though challenging, is a must. By inventing and utilizing novel cryptographic algorithms, we can ensure the security of our digital resources, communication, and even the entire infrastructure for many more years. The current threat can thus be rendered harmless by investing in a sound basis, which is a lesson from this joint transition that necessitates a proactive stance from all: governments, companies, and developers.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is post-quantum cryptography?
Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) refers to algorithms designed to resist attacks from powerful future quantum computers, which could break current public-key cryptography methods like RSA and ECC.
What is the PQC process?
Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) explained that quantum computers are machines that use quantum mechanical processes to solve mathematical problems that are difficult or unsolvable for conventional, binary computers.
Why is PQC Important?
PQC algorithms ensure the long-term security and privacy of digital communications and data exchange in a future where quantum computers can efficiently break classical cryptographic schemes.
What is PQC in 6G?
PQC, QKD, and SatQKD are essential components of quantum-safe networks designed for 6G technology.
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