Google spinoff SandboxAQ has landed a US Department of Defense contract to secure government systems against quantum cyberattacks.
SandboxAQ recently started working for the US Air Force. As part of the assignment, the organization will assess the Air Force’s current encryption algorithms. SandboxAQ is to determine whether the algorithms are equipped to resist quantum cyberattacks.
The contract for SandboxAQ is one of the first steps taken by the US government to secure its systems with quantum security. Security professionals worldwide agree that the rise of quantum computing can circumvent current security measures.
Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ, described the contract as a “significant” step. Hidary said that the deal demonstrates that SandboxAQ meets the regulatory and compliance requirements of government work. The company started as an Alphabet project and spun off in March 2022.
Quantum security
Most organizations view quantum security as a problem for later. The attitude is understandable, as the chances of being attacked by quantum technology are slim at this time.
On the other hand, the probability increases by the year. Quantum computers are already being provided as services. Although current prices are ludicrous for the average company (let alone the average cybercriminal), things can look very different in ten years’ time. The market grows rapidly.
The idea behind quantum security is that today’s security measures are no match for tomorrow. Future quantum computers will provide computing power that was unimaginable 20 years ago.
The problem is relevant to encryption algorithms. Most systems encrypt data with algorithms that are hard or impossible to crack with today’s technology. However, something that’s impossible right now may become possible over time. Service providers of quantum security ensure that data is safe against future attacks.
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