The coming quantum computer threat puts existing cryptography at risk. Postmodern solutions, such as the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) asymmetric algorithms, and other quantum-resistant technologies such as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) provide a cryptographic transition path.
The Cybersecurity Data Science (CSDS) Quantum Security (QS) team is performing experiments that research quantum-resistant technologies to keep Wells Fargo customer data and operations data safe in the anticipation of cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs) that threaten classical cryptography.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), which is based on quantum mechanical physics, provides quantum-safe secure delivery of symmetric keys between entities. The proof-of-technology (PoT) experiments demonstrate operability and provide greater understand of the necessary hardware systems to bring up a QKD system and integrate it into the Enterprise cryptographic ecosystem.
The experiment and accompanying research for this case study demonstrated the understanding and ability to operate a European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) compliant QKD system. The test bed included the presence of two endpoints set apart over a physical distance, connected by a local fiberoptic infrastructure, where each endpoint represented an enterprise network or data center. The experiment demonstrated the ability to successfully distribute photonic data bits to each endpoint to securely generate cryptographic keys at both locations.