One of the biggest challenges with today’s digital technology concerns security systems and data. In response, advanced algorithms have been designed to encrypt and protect data through a framework known as symmetric encryption. While this has proven successful, advances in quantum computing, which uses quantum mechanics to solve complex problems faster than traditional computers, could upend data security. there is.
IBM, Microsoft, and Google are already focused on quantum computing, so commercially viable quantum computers may not be far away. In fact, the global quantum computing market size in terms of revenue is estimated to be USD 866 million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 4.375 billion by 2028, with a Growing at a CAGR of 38.3%. Computers pose a threat to current public-key cryptographic algorithms, potentially exposing sensitive data. Therefore, there is a need to take data security one step further with more advanced cryptographic algorithms that minimize potential risks and ensure data protection in the world of quantum computing.
Data security cracked
Quantum-resistant data security is a concern because current approaches to data protection use algorithms that would take years to crack with traditional computing power. However, with the increased processing power of quantum computing, this time has been reduced significantly, and with its ability to solve mathematical problems and speed up certain complex mathematical calculations, the cryptography we use Algorithms can become obsolete. This creates harmful risks for businesses, universities, governments, and others.
This is supported by research from Forrester, which predicts that quantum computers will be able to crack all current cryptographic systems within the next 5 to 30 years, with the majority pegging the chance of this happening within the next 5 to 70 years. It claims to be %. It’s no wonder, then, that Gartner encouraged the advancement of privacy-enhancing technologies with an eye toward the quantum era and emphasized the importance of preparing for quantum impacts. This is a valid suggestion, as some classical cryptographic algorithms cannot compete with the processing power of quantum computing and succumb to brute force attacks.
However, while quantum computing is widely considered to be a potential risk to data security, quantum cybersecurity may offer a more robust and attractive opportunity to protect critical data. , could potentially also be part of the solution.
quantum cyber security
According to IBM, quantum computing will help provide a more robust way to protect critical data than current offerings. In particular, quantum machine learning and quantum random number generation are believed to offer viable solutions for protecting data, while also demonstrating the power to detect and prevent quantum-era cyber-attacks before they cause damage. .
Encryption is often a key element of data security, so adopting quantum-resistant cryptography is important to protect people and comply with privacy regulations. However, since quantum computing is not yet widely used, it is unlikely that we will be able to harness the power of quantum computing to develop quantum-resistant approaches to data security for several years. Therefore, before quantum computing becomes widely adopted as quantum computing as a service, instead of waiting for quantum computers to be commercially available, stay one step ahead of potential threats and develop quantum-resistant solutions now. It is important to do so. Breaking through the current data encryption model.
A quantum-resistant approach to data security
To prepare for the quantum revolution, businesses need to assess their cybersecurity infrastructure and identify potential vulnerabilities to quantum computing. While some traditional forms of data security will be rendered obsolete by the mass adoption of quantum computing, others are thought to be able to withstand the potential threats of this evolving technology.
Tokenization, which uses randomization to substitute a real value for a token and keep that value secret, is considered a viable data security option for quantum computing. This randomization is a powerful data security tool; unlike key-based encryption, which uses mathematical formulas or proofs to ensure the integrity of an algorithm, it is a random but reversible token that cannot be decrypted by mathematical solutions. Save your data.
Additionally, tokenization replaces real value with tokens consistently across the enterprise. This means data can be securely combined to power AI, ML, data analytics initiatives, and other applications that require data from multiple silos to drive business outcomes. .
Preparing for a quantum future
The advent of quantum computing is a double-edged sword. While it is expected to offer ground-breaking possibilities for data security, the risks it poses are equally concerning. Therefore, you need to prepare for its arrival now to keep your data safe in the future. This is supported by IBM, which says that while quantum computers are not yet commercially available, there are significant benefits to starting quantum-resistant cybersecurity solutions now.
This is especially true because terrorist networks have access to the same technology as businesses. While businesses may use these tools to improve customer experience and reduce costs, malicious actors use these tools to access data for other purposes. It is believed that threat actors are already scraping data. This means quantum computers are stealing and holding on to your data until it can be more easily deciphered. To overcome this challenge, businesses must deploy quantum-proof solutions now to ensure data safety into the future.
Protecting your data today
Although there are many unknowns about what impact quantum computing will have, it is likely that quantum computing will be commercially available before more stringent security measures are put in place to withstand threats to its computing power. I know I can’t wait for it to happen. Therefore, investing in data security today is essential to protect your data from new threats such as those posed by quantum computing.
To mitigate future privacy threats, businesses must rethink how they keep their data safe. Quantum computing and data scientists are working to develop solutions that are potentially quantum-resistant, but enterprises can be considered equally secure against threat actors and against quantum computing. By implementing the solution today, you can benefit from the first step in implementing a multi-layered approach. Data security for the future.
This can only be achieved if businesses prioritize data protection and stop focusing solely on the perimeter. This can best be achieved by companies like Protegrity, which has extensive experience in identifying and classifying sensitive data, and securing it with solutions that keep data safe now and in the future against quantum computing. need to partner with.
Clyde Williamson, Chief Security Architect, and Nathan Vega, VP of Product Marketing and Strategy, Protegrity
