Companies and organizations must start improving the security of their data as soon as possible. Quantum computers are becoming increasingly powerful and, in the long term, will be able to crack commonly used computer security. The General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) also calls on companies to take action on this as quickly as possible.
Twenty MEPs express their concerns about the declining effectiveness of traditional computer security in an open letter to the European.
‘Q-day’ is approaching
Cryptography is widely used to protect sensitive information against hackers. Security experts fear that this will no longer be sufficient in the long term. Quantum computers will then be able to crack current cryptographic standards. Such computers have so much computing power that hacking into regular computers is a piece of cake.
MEP Bart Groothuis (Renew), the initiator of the urgent letter, emphasizes that the business community must, therefore, immediately start to arm itself against quantum computers. The move to better computer security is a good solution to protect sensitive data in the future, but it will take time and money to implement.
The moment when quantum computers are able to crack the current generation of security, also known as ‘Q-day’, may not take another ten to twenty years. However, that does not mean that we can sit back and take action years from now. In particular, companies active in the vital sector and government organizations that process a lot of sensitive data should be concerned and take measures now. “We cannot take that risk. The most important organizations must start doing this now,” Groothuis told NOS.
‘Think about the possibilities of quantum systems now’
Julia Cramer, assistant professor of Quantum and Society at Leiden University, says that enormous progress is being made. According to her, quantum computers need 2,000 qubits to decipher mathematical keys. “But those 2,000 qubits are still a long way off,” she says.
In addition, qubits, which increase computing power exponentially compared to regular bits, are currently still very error-prone. However, according to Cramer, you can overcome this by linking multiple qubits together. Quantum computers will, therefore, probably only pose a threat to current cryptographic keys in ten years’ time. “But because of the many possibilities of quantum systems and the possibility of cracking today’s codes, we are already thinking about this.”
Switching to other algorithms that are more resistant to quantum computers is not possible simply. Both sender and receiver must use and support the same technology. A successful adjustment, therefore, depends on software makers. They have to implement the new technology.
AIVD also advises to take steps now
The AIVD is also concerned that quantum computers will be able to circumvent current security standards in a few years. “The AIVD emphasizes the importance of sufficient resources and urgency among suppliers to deliver quantum-safe products and update current products as quickly as possible,” the security service said in a written response.
To underline the transition to quantum-safe communication, the AIVD introduced the PQC manual in April last year. With the manual, the security service wants to provide organizations with tools to identify risks and take concrete steps to work on a migration strategy. “The migration to new cryptographic mechanisms is a complex process that takes time. Are you not taking this into account, and are you taking measures too late? Then you run the risk that your sensitive or confidential information will be deciphered later,” the security service warned last year.
Outgoing State Secretary for Digitalization Alexandra van Huffelen agreed. “It is very important that the Netherlands prepares for the threat of the quantum computer to our secured information and communication. This manual offers important support to the government and businesses in this regard. It is nice to see that the collaboration between the knowledge institutions [AIVD, TNO and the Center for Mathematics and Computer Science, ed.] leads to the publication of this manual,” said the minister.
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