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Quantum computing is rapidly advancing, bringing both immense potential and significant cybersecurity risks. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and experts across the globe are warning of a "colossal" overhaul needed in digital defenses to prepare for the quantum era. The concern is that powerful quantum computers could render current encryption methods obsolete, breaking security protocols that protect financial transactions, medical records, military communications, and blockchain technology. This urgency is underscored by the threat of "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, where sensitive data is collected and stored for future decryption once quantum computers become powerful enough.
Across the globe, governments and organizations are scrambling to prepare for a quantum future by adopting post-quantum cryptography (PQC). PQC involves creating new encryption algorithms resistant to attacks from both classical and quantum computers. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has already released several algorithms believed to be secure from quantum hacking. The NCSC has issued guidance, setting clear timelines for the UK’s migration to PQC, advising organizations to complete the transition by 2035. Industry leaders are also urging the U.S. Congress to reauthorize and expand the National Quantum Initiative to support research, workforce development, and a resilient supply chain.
Oxford Ionics is one of the companies leading the way in quantum computing development. Oxford has released a multi-phase roadmap focused on achieving scalability and fault tolerance in their trapped-ion quantum computing platform. Their strategy includes the 'Foundation' phase, which involves deploying QPUs with 16-64 qubits with 99.99% fidelity, already operational. The second phase introduces chips with 256+ qubits and error rates as low as 10-8 via quantum error correction (QEC). The goal is to scale to over 10,000 physical qubits per chip, supporting 700+ logical qubits with minimal infrastructure change. There are also multiple bills introduced in the U.S. Congress and the state of Texas to foster the advancement of quantum technology.
References :
- medium.com: Post‑Quantum Cryptography: Safeguarding the Digital World Beyond Quantum Supremacy
- Peter Bendor-Samuel: The Realistic Path To Quantum Computing: Separating Hype From Reality
- www.techradar.com: Safeguarding data for the quantum era
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