PQC Week in Review: Ending March 31, 2024

CTOs and CISOs have ample reason to take note this week. The focus on Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) has thus far largely centered on the transition to new public-key or asymmetric cryptography. This shift is critical for securing everything from web connections, to virtual private networks (VPNs), to Secure Shell (SSH) keys, all of which are known to be vulnerable to quantum computing attacks. However, a new IBM study authored by Dr. Robert Campbell, Dr. Whitfield Diffie, and Charles Robinson, brings to light a new concern. The study posits that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), when coupled with quantum computing capabilities, could also threaten symmetric encryption algorithms, like AES, which are widely used for securing stored data. This possibility increases the urgency and the potential scale of the migration to PQC.

Whether it is an attack on RSA or AES, the threat will come from a cryptographically relevant quantum computer (CRQC). The date when such a computer will be available is unknown, making it critical to track the pace of progress in quantum computing. This week, IBM unveiled new strides in quantum error correction, a critical component in making quantum computing more reliable and viable. The takeaway for those outside the quantum physics domain is clear: quantum computing is advancing at an accelerating pace. This sentiment was reinforced by Sylvia Jablonski, CEO of Defiance ETF, who predicted that quantum computing will be the next technology category after AI to witness breakaway growth -- driven by technical breakthroughs and an increasingly competitive quantum computing market.

Given these developments, leaders responsible for their organization’s technological security should re-evaluate their timelines for transitioning to post-quantum cryptography. The indicators point to risks increasing on multiple fronts.

Highlighted Stories of the Week

1. Advancements in Quantum Computing and AI May Impact PQC Migration Timelines  

A new study on how advancements in AI and quantum computing together may create an additional threat to be addressed in the shift to post-quantum cryptography. Read more

2. Landmark IBM error correction paper published on the cover of Nature

IBM's latest publication in Nature discusses a significant advancement in quantum error correction, marking a pivotal step towards practical quantum computing. Discover the details

3. Quantum Computing: The Next Big Thing in Finance

Sylvia Jablonski, an expert in ETFs, discusses why quantum computing is set to become the new buzzword in Wall Street, following the footsteps of AI. Watch the interview

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