Quantum Computing

The IETF has established the Post-Quantum Use In Protocols (PQUIP) Working Group to help the Internet transition safely into the era of quantum computing.

Many cryptographic algorithms that protect Internet traffic today rely on problems like integer factorization and discrete logarithms, problems that quantum computers will eventually break. To address this, researchers worldwide are developing Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms designed to remain secure even against quantum attacks.

PQUIP mission is to support the adoption of PQC across IETF protocols, by:

Please find here https://youtu.be/-PDHp9Bqu4A?si=6jSfVoo4Nh0aWBfe the recording of the Quantum Internet Research Group at IETF meeting 121. 

Additional material related to the meeting can be found here https://datatracker.ietf.org/meeting/121/materials/agenda-121-qirg-05. 

Please find in here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW-MmPAiq8Q the recording of the Quantum Internet Research Group (qirg) Working Group at IETF 118.

Minutes in here: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/minutes-118-qirg-202311070830/

Berlin, March 9 and 10. At the mentioned date the first meeting of the newly founded CEN/CENELEC Joint Technical Committee JTC 22 will take place in Berlin. It will be hosted by the German DIN who were allocated with its secretariat. JTC 22 will address quantum technologies standardisation on a European level (EU 27 plus 7 European countries, which are not in the EU, see (1) below) and will address all aspects of quantum technologies.

Introduction

Quantum Key Distribution solutions promise the highest security levels and are intended for the protection of critical information in critical applications, where a breach of confidentiality might have the severest consequences. Therefore, prospective owners and users will need confidence in a QKD system, or a QKD network—confidence that their data is protected, that all important risks are minimized by sufficient and effective countermeasures.

The Quantum Internet Research Group (qirg) at the IETF has published a new version of Application Scenarios for the Quantum Internet. 

The CEN/CENELEC FGQT produces a QT Standardisation Roadmap, including all areas of quantum technologies: quantum computing and simulation, quantum communication, and quantum metrology, sensing, and imaging. A first “draft” of the roadmap is currently been prepared for publication, and will likely appear in Feb. 2023 (it has to be agreed by all the European national bodies).

The CEN/CENELEC Focus Group on Quantum Technologies has recently officially published its first two documents on its CEN/CENLEC web page https://www.cencenelec.eu/areas-of-work/cen-cenelec-topics/quantum-technologies/ .

A publication with the above title was recently submitted to the upcoming Special Issue on Quantum Standardization of the European Physical Journal (EPJ) Quantum Technology. Author is the chairman of the CEN/CENELEC Focus Group Quantum Technologies FGQT, Dr. Oskar van Deventer (TNO)—together with 22 co-authors, all of them members of the FGQT.

The EITCI QSG brings together academics and practitioners in quantum information and communication, quantum cryptography, cybersecurity, post-quantum classical cryptography, networking and computing to join efforts in support of technical quantum standards drafting to support international efforts in this regard undertaken by increasingly many SDOs/SSOs.

Positive decision on QT roadmap restructuring; inclusion of QKD security certification roadmap

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is an international Standards Developing Organization that works in the development and standardization of Internet protocols. The IETF is open to any interested individual. The work in the IETF is done through Working and Research groups. One of the research groups is called Quantum Internet Research Group (qirg). QIRG has the goal of answering the question of how to design and build quantum networks. Its research topics involves routing, resource allocation, connection establishment, interoperability, security and API design. 

The standard ISO/EN 15408 "Common Criteria" enables end users to express their specific security needs for a type of information technology systems in the form of a Protection Profile (PP). Producers can then have their products evaluated against such a PP, providing assurance to end users that these products can be securely and dependably used in the intended environment.

This joint symposium will bring together world-leading speakers to introduce different aspects of quantum technologies: quantum communication, quantum computation and quantum measurement. This will be followed by an extensive panel discussion involving representatives from various SDOs including IEC, ISO, ITU-T, NIST, ETSI, ISO and CEN/CENELEC to discuss the general importance of standards for quantum technologies, identify and prioritize areas in which standards would be most required and according to which timeline (road-mapping).