Exploring QKDaaS
With the ever-increasing move to digital technology across all elements of society, the security of an individual’s data, both in communication and at rest, is becoming more and more of a challenge. The progress of quantum computers and the threat it poses to current Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology is very real and is of enormous concern to banks, government organisations and healthcare providers.
Quantum Key Distribution is a method of distributing and sharing keys necessary for cryptographic protocols responsible for securing data. To ensure private communication, QKD relies upon what was once seen as a problem of quantum systems; if you observe or disturb them in any way, you break the quantum characteristics — meaning that if an attacker were to try intercept the key generation, they will introduce errors and reveal themselves before any data is encoded or communicated.
Due to the losses experienced in optical fibres in ground based QKD networks and line of sight limitations, space represents an excellent, global, and highly scalable mechanism for the distribution of secure keys.
Barrier Networks and Craft Prospect have joined together to form a consortium. Led by the talented engineers and physicists at Craft Prospect, we will explore space-based quantum key distribution services. Together, the consortium will develop plans for a commercial service offering scalable space-based cybersecurity services underpinned by quantum key technologies. With the threat to security posed by quantum computers, these quantum key based services will form part of a future ‘cybersecurity toolbox’ protecting everyday transactions of data from internet banking, mobile communications, and medical records, from cyberattack.
A first mission known as ROKS to demonstrate these capabilities is planned in 2022. This will provide a proof of concept and the first implementation of Augmented QKD based services.
We are developing the technology of the future, delivering capabilities for securing highly sensitive information and data exchanges via satellite-based quantum cryptography, to make your business more secure now.