IBM releases 'quantum-safe' tool with end-to-end encryption to protect against quantum computing attacks

On May 15 , IBM launched a set of tools called "Quantum Safe" that it claims provide comprehensive end-to-end encryption capabilities that can resist attacks from quantum computers. The company said these features are designed to prepare users for the "post-quantum era," an era in which traditional algorithms are unlikely to keep businesses safe.

The company is releasing a quantum security roadmap along with these tools to support customers in what it calls a “security transition.”

IBM releases end-to-end quantum security technology

At the 2023 Think Conference held in Orlando, Florida, IBM released new quantum security tools and its accompanying quantum roadmap.

Quantum computing is a potentially transformative technology that, once fully realized, has the potential to change our understanding of the universe, the human brain, and address issues such as climate change. But technological advances also come with risks, and quantum machines are likely to easily break encryption, creating potentially devastating quantum cyber weapons.

The new tools are designed to protect enterprises from such threats, using quantum technology to bolster their security. IBM said the tools enable enterprises to "scan source and object code to locate cryptographic assets, dependencies and vulnerabilities, and build a cryptographic bill of materials (CBOM)."

Meanwhile, IBM’s Quantum Safety Advisor allows for the creation of a dynamic or operational view of the encryption inventory to guide remediation, and analyzes encryption status and compliance to prioritize risks.

The third part of the package is the Quantum Safe Fixer, which helps enterprises deploy and test best practices based on quantum safe fix patterns to understand the potential impact on systems and assets when preparing to deploy quantum safe solutions.

Ray Harishankar, IBM Fellow and IBM Quantum Safety Technical Lead, said the company recognizes the importance of fully addressing the critical needs of its customers as they also consider transforming their encryption technologies for the quantum era.

“The new set of quantum-safe technologies and milestones we have outlined on our roadmap are designed to evolve post-quantum security in conjunction with useful quantum computing, including solutions that help organizations across industries navigate this transition efficiently and easily,” Harishankar added.

The threat posed by quantum algorithms

Countries around the world are investing heavily in quantum technology. The UK government has pledged £2.5 billion in funding for its National Quantum Strategy, which was published in March, and announced plans for a research zone, skills training and regulatory framework as part of the strategy.

“Ultimately, as use cases become more evident, new standards, benchmarks, and assurance frameworks will grow in importance to facilitate technology development, help define interoperability requirements, and measure performance across key sectors,” the report on its national quantum strategy said.

Last year, the U.S. government issued new quantum requirements and guidelines requiring U.S. national security systems to transition to quantum-safe algorithms by 2025, and the White House asked federal agencies to submit an encryption list of systems that may be vulnerable to encryption-related quantum computer attacks.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has selected four quantum-resistant algorithms for standardization, three of which were developed by IBM and collaborators in academia and industry.

The report on the UK National Quantum Strategy explains: “These technologies will one day make it possible to solve complex problems that are beyond the reach of today’s most powerful high-performance classical computers, and will allow us to reach entirely new frontiers in sensing, timing, imaging and communications.

Quantum technology already offers possible solutions to some of the most important societal challenges we face, and perhaps most excitingly, it offers unexplored capabilities that will improve people’s lives, drive economic growth, create jobs, and make us safer.”