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As governments increasingly recognize the coming threat that quantum computers pose to the encryption that protects everything from military secrets to tax records, ISARA Corp., the world's leading provider of quantum-safe and crypto-agile security, will moderate a panel at this week's 10th Annual Billington Cybersecurity Summit on how to start building a defensive barrier to keep sensitive data safe.
"It's dawning on governments around the world that even with practical quantum computers several years away, the time to start building defenses against them is right now," said Paul Lucier, ISARA's vice president of sales and business development, who will moderate the panel "The Looming Quantum Threat to Encryption – Taking a Defensive Posture." Building a robust quantum-safe security infrastructure is a multi-year process and time may already be running short to protect some of the most sensitive data.
Quantum computers operate differently than classical digital computers, giving them vastly more processing power to solve difficult problems – including traditionally secure encryption algorithms. The U.S. government has recognized the urgency of this threat. In December 2018, the National Quantum Initiative Act allocated $1.2 billion to advancing quantum technologies. And in May 2019, the Department of Defense began seeking quantum-safe encryption solutions through the Defense Information Systems Agency.
"It's important that the national defense communities understand that while we await global standards, they can and need to start preparing by building flexibility, or crypto-agility, into their systems," Lucier said. "It is equally important that we begin those efforts now to prevent against quantum attacks without wholesale disruption to war-fighting capabilities. The pace of scientific and technological advancement will not allow us to wait much longer.''
The Billington panel will present perspectives on the looming quantum threat from industry leaders and government officials who are working to protect national security now and in the future. In addition to Lucier, panelists include:
Additionally, event attendees can meet with ISARA Corp. and Thales thought leaders in the Quantum Innovation Zone to ask their most pressing questions and get started on the path to quantum-safe security.
"It's dawning on governments around the world that even with practical quantum computers several years away, the time to start building defenses against them is right now," said Paul Lucier, ISARA's vice president of sales and business development, who will moderate the panel "The Looming Quantum Threat to Encryption – Taking a Defensive Posture." Building a robust quantum-safe security infrastructure is a multi-year process and time may already be running short to protect some of the most sensitive data.
Quantum computers operate differently than classical digital computers, giving them vastly more processing power to solve difficult problems – including traditionally secure encryption algorithms. The U.S. government has recognized the urgency of this threat. In December 2018, the National Quantum Initiative Act allocated $1.2 billion to advancing quantum technologies. And in May 2019, the Department of Defense began seeking quantum-safe encryption solutions through the Defense Information Systems Agency.
"It's important that the national defense communities understand that while we await global standards, they can and need to start preparing by building flexibility, or crypto-agility, into their systems," Lucier said. "It is equally important that we begin those efforts now to prevent against quantum attacks without wholesale disruption to war-fighting capabilities. The pace of scientific and technological advancement will not allow us to wait much longer.''
The Billington panel will present perspectives on the looming quantum threat from industry leaders and government officials who are working to protect national security now and in the future. In addition to Lucier, panelists include:
- Brent Hansen, federal CTO for cloud protection and licensing activity at Thales, a leader in critical information systems, cybersecurity and data protection; and,
- Ken McKinney, Col., USAF (Ret.), Vice President of Strategic Development at Hawkins Group LLC, a Washington-based digital security consultancy.
Additionally, event attendees can meet with ISARA Corp. and Thales thought leaders in the Quantum Innovation Zone to ask their most pressing questions and get started on the path to quantum-safe security.
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