Share this article on:
Imagine a world where your every whisper, every strategic move, is laid bare to your enemy or competitor. This was the chilling reality of World War I, where Germany’s undersea cables, the lifelines of their communication, were intercepted by British forces.
Fast forward to World War II, and a quiet genius named Alan Turing emerges, cracking the Enigma code, a feat that changed the course of history and laid the foundation for the digital world we know today.
Here in Australia, the Signals Directorate motto rings as important as ever: “Reveal their secrets. Protect our own.” As the world hurtles towards a quantum computing future, safeguarding our digital infrastructure from potential breaches becomes paramount, whether we’re a government or commercial organisation.
Proactive adoption of quantum-resistant encryption is essential. But we must also embrace the transformative power of quantum computing. Striking this delicate balance – protecting our encryption while harnessing the efficiency boost promised by quantum computers – is the key to unlocking the full potential of this revolutionary technology.
The keys to our digital world are about to be broken
The internet’s security currently relies on a system called public key infrastructure (PKI), which uses complex mathematical problems to keep our data safe. However, the rise of quantum computers threatens to break this system, making our online world vulnerable.
Quantum computing leverages principles from quantum physics to use qubits, units that can exist in multiple states simultaneously, to execute calculations more efficiently than conventional computing.
In the past, attempts to solve PKI problems with a conventional computer would take millions of years. A quantum computer, however, could solve this problem in minutes.
A race to secure our digital future
Quantum computers are coming, and they threaten to break the encryption that protects our online world. This could leave our communications, financial transactions, and sensitive data vulnerable. The race is on to develop quantum-resistant encryption, and many countries, including Australia, are investing heavily in this critical area.
Several approaches are being taken to address the quantum risk, including:
A new era of security and innovation
For businesses and governments, investing in quantum-safe cryptography is essential to address the looming cyber security crisis, which could fundamentally undermine our digital systems. This means developing new encryption methods that can withstand the power of quantum computers.
Just as radar technology, initially developed for military purposes, later led to advancements in television, quantum computing presents both challenges and opportunities. We must seize this opportunity to innovate and secure our digital future.
This requires a concerted effort from governments, businesses, and researchers. We need to work together to develop standards, migrate our digital infrastructure, and ensure that we can protect our data in the age of quantum computing.