The Role of Quantum Encryption Building Blocks in New-age Defense Mechanisms
The building blocks of quantum computing can be utilized to offer high levels of protection but, like any structure, are vulnerable to compromise if the foundations are weakened. This article will examine some of the components that go into Quantum defenses and how to make sure that they can block malicious actors from accessing the foundations.
Three main components of quantum defenses
Desecration of Cipher keys with perfect entropy
Entropy is defined as the measurement of the degree of randomness. When dealing with Cryptography, Cipher keys are considered to be the secret component. Therefore, the level of their randomness measures the quality of cipher keys. Random bits can be collected from hardware sources (fan noise or HDD), either pre-existing ones such as mouse movements or generated by a specially designed randomness generator.
Post-quantum cryptography algorithms
It is a characteristic of quantum computing that it can quickly compute huge numbers, enabling it to break current cryptographic mechanisms. In the future, post-quantum algorithms will provide the capability to disarm quantum computing and keep encrypted data/channels secure.
Key distribution mechanisms
The purpose of key distribution mechanisms is to securely coordinate keys between the two ends of a line. Quantum technology introduced a bulletproof key distribution mechanism - QKD (Quantum key distribution). These are the core building blocks of quantum technology employed in the operation of cryptosystems, key generation, key management, identification procedures, and authentication. Moreover, they become the cornerstone building block in mechanisms for ensuring privacy, managing information, preventing disruptions, and verifying information.
Is quantum cryptography a target for attack?
When collecting and exposing information, quantum building blocks are generally not the targets for attack, but their output (encryption keys) most certainly is, and attacks on the encryption and management components of the keys provided by Quantum are the focus.
Dealing with the threat
Encryption components have been built to protect them from a wide range of threats, including Physical, Logical, and Communicational. A potential adversary will exert enormous effort to extract the key, and the weakest link will determine the strength of the solution. There will always be the weakest link in the application of any defense. Quantum capabilities introduce high levels of security value, and its integration with other building blocks presents opportunities for the attacker. By using secure computing technology on core components, out-of-the-box solutions can be used to minimize the attack surface on the customer assets by owning all the access methods to the machine and restricting it according to the owner’s definition. This is relevant to interfaces on all levels from HW, base SW, virtualization mechanisms, and OS and also applies to data and user profiles. The secure computing solutions offered by HUB Security enhance these capabilities by integrating security and infrastructure mechanisms. Key generation and distribution mechanisms and their encryption are all driven by quantum technologies.
HUB Security provides customizable hardware and software-based products for confidential security. Our basic assumption is that all systems are compromised, and data in use is the most vulnerable link in conventional security paradigms. Therefore, our strategy is to make unauthorized data unusable through hardware-based authentication, decryption at the point of use, and re-encryption upon completion.
