Quantum computers that will render current encryption protections obsolete will not be developed for at least another 10 years, according to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report. In spite of the significant amount of time between then and now, it also stresses the need for new cryptography safe from quantum computers. “Even if a quantum computer that can decrypt current cryptographic ciphers is more than a decade off, the hazard of such a machine is high enough – and the timeframe for transitioning to a new security protocol is sufficiently long and uncertain – that prioritization of the development, standardization, and deployment of a post-quantum cryptography is critical for minimizing the chance of a potential security and privacy disaster.”

Produced at the request of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, it seeks to determine the current progress towards such computing technologies and the impact they may have once developed. The U.S. stands at the forefront of the current research, but major investments by China and others mean that many billions of dollars are going into its research and development.

Source: Quantum Computing That Can Crack Modern Encryption More Than a Decade Away – Nextgov

Special Series on Quantum Computing

The developments in the field of Quantum Computing are coming faster and faster. OODA analysts are focusing on what matters most to today’s business decision makers. Recent reporting includes:

• The Executive’s Guide To Quantum Computing: What business decision-makers need to know now about quantum superiority
• Is Quantum Computing Ushering in an Era of No More Secrets?: Context from OODA’s Matt Devost on the very near future of quantum computing.
• What To Do About Quantum Uncertainty: Guess what, besides uncertainty at a quantum level there is great uncertainty among business and policy makers regarding Quantum Computing.
• AI, quantum computing and 5G could make criminals more dangerous than ever, warn police: Quantum is one of many emerging technologies that law enforcement professionals are tracking
• Intel offers AI breakthrough in quantum computing: This article is more about quantum simulations for AI, but shows the ecosystem that is developing around the technology
• Could quantum computers render current bitcoin and most blockchain cryptography powerless?: There is a worry that new algorithms that could run on quantum computing could attack blockchain and asymmetric encryption.