"Preparing for Quantum Cryptography, US Air Force Partners up With SandboxAQ"

As researchers predict that quantum computers will be able to decrypt public key algorithms as early as 2030, organizations are under increasing pressure to develop quantum-resistant algorithms to protect their data from threat actors. The US Air Force is one such organization, having entered into a partnership with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum security provider SandboxAQ, awarding the vendor a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract. The provider will conduct post-quantum cryptographic inventory analysis and performance benchmarking as part of the contract. The Air Force's collaboration with SandboxAQ demonstrates that the threat of post-quantum computing is not just an abstract, theoretical threat, but a real risk that businesses must prepare for right now. The partnership follows the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) selection of four post-quantum encryption algorithms for inclusion in its post-quantum cryptographic standard, as well as Google Cloud's announcement that it has deployed a post-quantum cryptographic algorithm to help secure its internal Application Layer Transport Security (ALTS) protocol. Although the post-quantum cryptography momentum may appear speculative at first glance, the risks posed by quantum computing are now visible. Harvest Now, Decrypt Later (HNDL) or Store Now, Decrypt Later (SNDL) attacks, for example, involve nation-state actors and cybercriminals collecting and storing encrypted data today in order to decrypt it later. If successful, these attacks would allow threat actors to decrypt protected data at their leisure. If post-quantum cryptography is not urgently implemented, adversarial nation-states' quantum computers could shatter US national security. SandboxAQ will assist the Air Force in this critical first step in the deployment of post-quantum cryptography across national security systems, which is expected to take years. SandboxAQ is part of the quantum cryptography market, which researchers estimate will grow from $102.34 million in 2021 to $476.83 million by 2030. This article continues to discuss the US Air Force's partnership with SandboxAQ, the mandate for quantum cryptography. as well as the growing quantum cryptography market. 

VB reports "Preparing for Quantum Cryptography, US Air Force Partners up With SandboxAQ"