CISA encourages organisations to prepare for the arrival of quantum computers

Although quantum computing is not yet commercially available, CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) encourages organisations to prepare for the arrival of this new era, which is expected to usher in revolutionary changes in cryptography and how we protect our secrets.

Quantum computers are systems that use quantum mechanics to perform much more powerful computations than are currently available on binary (0, 1) systems.

This could jeopardise data in transit related to top-secret communications, banking operations, military operations, government meetings, critical industrial processes, and other sensitive information.

Cryptographic schemes that are currently thought to be secure will be cracked in seconds by quantum computers.

Baidu, a Chinese search engine company, has unveiled an industrial-level quantum supercomputer capable of achieving stable performance at 10 quantum bits of power.

The chip threatens to outperform the leading American quantum machine, IonQ Aria, which has 20 qubits.

CISA advises all stakeholders to adhere to the “post-quantum cryptography roadmap” until official guidelines on the subject are published by 2024.