The National Research Foundation announced the launch of their first testbed for quantum cryptography named the National Quantum-Safe Network earlier this month.

Aimed at building an unbreakable cryptographic algorithm, it uses the quantum properties of light particles to safeguard communications online. This includes protecting sectors such as banking, energy grids, finance etc against potential attacks.

So what?

Quantum computers store information as qubits which represent both 0 and 1 simultaneously as opposed to the conventional binary information. Also applying quantum key distribution systems, theoretically, it can notify users when hackers read their information. Both together allow for faster information processing and building a secure network online.

2021 saw a myriad of cyberattacks from the Colonial Pipeline attack rendering one of USA’s largest oil and gas company defenseless to the JBS Food Hack that paid 11$ million in Bitcoin as ransom. Governments struggled to respond as the hacks revealed the fragility of our web infrastructure and how critical systems have grown vulnerable as hacking methodologies have only become more sophisticated. Emergent technologies such as quantum cryptography are crucial as the world begins to address the issue of cybersecurity and data protection.