Australian cybersecurity specialist, Senetas, has announced the first high-assurance, quantum-resistant network encryption capability, protecting sensitive government and business network data against the emerging threat of quantum computing.
Quantum computing is universally regarded as one of the most significant future threats to cybersecurity. Once fully realized, quantum computing will put conventional, mathematics-based public key data encryption at risk. The recent announcement by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on August 13, 2024, releasing the first three finalized Post-Quantum Encryption algorithms, marks a critical milestone in addressing this challenge.
Senetas’ quantum evolution enables customers to combine both conventional and quantum-resistant encryption in a single platform, ensuring a smooth and secure transition to a quantum-resistant world. This capability is now available to all current and future customers, leveraging the company’s crypto-agile encryption platforms.
Senetas CEO, Andrew Wilson, emphasized the need for organizations to act now in light of NIST’s announcement, urging them to adopt a quantum security strategy to ensure long-term data security.
“As quantum computing becomes a reality, organizations must plan and implement quantum-resistant encryption sooner rather than later,” Mr. Wilson said. “This is no longer a theoretical risk – NIST’s announcement signals that we must prepare for a post-quantum future now.”
Quantum computing uses the principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations and tasks at unprecedented speeds. While tech giants such as IBM, Google, and Microsoft race to develop practical quantum computers, the threat of rogue states or bad actors developing quantum capabilities remains a pressing concern.
Mr. Wilson explained that today’s conventional public key encrypted infrastructures, which take thousands of man-years to decrypt, will be vulnerable to quantum computers, which will accomplish the same decryption in mere seconds, minutes, or hours.
“Senetas is proud to be the first to market with high-assurance, high-speed network encryptors offering Quantum Resistant Encryption (QRE),” Mr. Wilson said. “Our customers, including governments, defense agencies, and businesses, can make a secure transition to a future quantum-safe world.”
IBM estimates that a practical quantum computer could emerge within five years. However, the likelihood of rogue states secretly developing quantum computing is high, meaning quantum threats may surface sooner than anticipated.
“Recently, we’ve seen large-scale cyber-attacks from state-based actors. Quantum-enabled cyber-attacks will be even more devastating unless protected by quantum-resistant encryption,” Mr. Wilson said.
Senetas’ new quantum-resistant encryption solution supports all quantum encryption algorithms selected by NIST, following their August 2024 standardization. The solution also aligns with the latest European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) standards for quantum key distribution – an important and emerging security capability that has applications in securing next-generation 5G networks.
Future-proofing encryption today requires a hybrid approach, combining conventional cryptography with quantum-resistant techniques. Senetas offers this quantum-resistant encryption to its existing customers, allowing them to begin the transition to quantum security on their current platforms.
Senetas will distribute its quantum-resistant encryption solutions directly to customers in Australia and New Zealand, and through its international distributor, Thales, for global markets.
