Quantum computers have changed drastically in less than a decade. These today have become breakthrough tools across industries — healthcare and life sciences, high energy physics, optimization, material development and sustainability. In fact, the industry is witnessing a computing revolution.

Quantum computers involve a new branch of computation and are based on different rules. They can access and discover new types of results.

An issue while using quantum computers is factoring large numbers, making these computers ‘cryptographically relevant’ risk to many.

India’s National Quantum Mission would like to create a vibrant eco-system for quantum technology. Of course, there are risks passed by bad actors by availing of quantum computer’s ability to decrypt data. They have access to cryptographically relevant data.

It is a tough thing to avoid in cybersecurity field. There are post-quantum cryptographic standards and these could be leveraged.

These days we can have quantum safe technologies. To illustrate, IBMz16 is the industry’s first quantum-safe system that protects against attacks from both classical and quantum computers.

In just a decade, we have to resolve the issues of risks. Policies should be developed to adopt quantum safe computers. There should be financial commitment to research on cryptography. There should be adoption of post-quantum standards. There is research on QKD — quantum key distribution leading to green field quantum communication in the future. The existing systems could be protected by post-quantum cryptography.

There should be upgradation of the existing systems to quantum-safe levels. We are at the thresholds of a new computing revolution, and there is no time to waste.