QuantumSafe Cryptography
Introduction: What is QuantumSafe Cryptography?
The dawn of quantum computing is both exciting and terrifying. While quantum computers promise enormous computational power, they also threaten to break many of the encryption systems that protect our online transactions and communications. At the forefront of defending against these future threats is QuantumSafe Cryptography. In this blog, we’ll explore the limitations of current RSA encryption, the role quantum cryptography plays in solving these issues, and how DeshCyber is leading the charge with partnerships with Azure, IBM, and SSL providers to help organizations transition to quantum-safe solutions.
Understanding Current RSA Encryption and Its Limitations
Today’s encryption systems, including the widely used RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), are designed to secure communications using classical computers. RSA works by using a pair of cryptographic keys (one public and one private) and relies on the difficulty of factoring large prime numbers.
Expanded Classical RSA Example:
Imagine you’re in a massive building with 1000 doors, and behind one of these doors is the person you’re looking for. The challenge is, you don’t know which door leads to that person. To solve this, you would need to open each door one by one and check if the person is behind it. This is exactly how classical computers approach breaking RSA encryption: they check each possible key, one at a time, until they find the correct one that decrypts the message.
Now, let’s apply this to RSA encryption, which relies on large prime numbers. The larger the RSA key (e.g., 2048 bits or 4096 bits), the more doors (or possible keys) there are to check. In the real world, these doors are billions or even trillions of possibilities, each representing a different key combination. Just like opening each physical door in the building, a classical computer must go through these key combinations sequentially, making the process incredibly time-consuming.
For example:
- With a 2048-bit RSA key, there are over 2^2048 possible combinations (that’s a number with 617 digits). To break this encryption, a classical computer would need to check each possibility, one after another.
- For a 4096-bit key, the number of possible combinations increases exponentially, making it even more secure (for now) because the computer would need to test 2^4096 combinations—an astronomically large number.
In theory, even with advanced classical computing power, it could take millions of years to break a well-encrypted RSA key, especially a 4096-bit key. This is why RSA encryption has been the gold standard for securing data—because no classical computer has the speed or power to break it within a reasonable timeframe.
How Quantum Cryptography Breaks RSA: Opening All Doors at Once
With quantum computing, the rules change dramatically. Quantum cryptography leverages principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations much faster than classical computers. Instead of opening each door one by one, imagine being able to open all 1000 doors simultaneously and immediately find the right room. This is exactly what quantum computers can do using the principle of superposition.
In classical computing, bits can only be 0 or 1. But in quantum computing, qubits can exist in both states—0 and 1 at the same time. This allows quantum computers to process all possible solutions in parallel, drastically reducing the time it takes to break encryption like RSA.
What is Superposition? Understanding Quantum Algorithms
To understand how quantum algorithms like Shor’s Algorithm break RSA, let’s dive deeper into the concept of superposition.
Example of Superposition in Real Life:
Imagine a delivery man standing outside your door. When your doorbell rings, there are two possible outcomes:
- It could be your friend.
- It could be the delivery man.
In classical computing, you can only evaluate one option at a time. But in quantum computing, both possibilities (friend and delivery man) can exist at the same time, represented as qubits being in a state of superposition. Once you check, the outcome collapses into one reality (either friend or delivery man), but until then, both options exist simultaneously.
In the case of quantum computing, this means it can test multiple keys simultaneously, vastly accelerating the process of decrypting data.
Why Classical Cryptography is Vulnerable to Quantum Computers
Classical cryptography, like RSA, relies on the computational difficulty of solving complex mathematical problems. For example, RSA depends on the challenge of factoring large prime numbers. Classical computers would take millions of years to break RSA encryption because they can only check one possible solution at a time.
However, quantum computers use qubits and quantum algorithms to process many solutions simultaneously. A quantum computer with enough power could break even the strongest RSA encryption (up to 4096 bits) in just seconds or milliseconds.
How DeshCyber Helps Organizations Achieve QuantumSafe Cryptography
At DeshCyber, we understand that transitioning to QuantumSafe Cryptography can be complex, but it’s a necessity in today’s world. The vulnerabilities in RSA and other classical encryption systems are becoming more apparent as quantum technology advances. To help businesses prepare for the quantum era, DeshCyber has partnered with Azure, IBM, and leading SSL providers to automate and provision quantum-safe encryption solutions.
1. Azure and IBM Partnerships for QuantumSafe Solutions
DeshCyber partners with Azure and IBM to deliver cutting-edge quantum-safe encryption. By leveraging the quantum capabilities of these tech giants, we offer a secure platform for transitioning your current systems to quantum-safe alternatives.
- Azure Quantum: Azure’s cloud infrastructure allows for the seamless integration of quantum-safe technologies, ensuring that your data remains protected against future quantum threats.
- IBM Quantum: IBM’s quantum computing expertise enables DeshCyber to implement the most advanced quantum-resistant algorithms, keeping your business safe from even the most sophisticated attacks.
2. SSL Providers and Quantum-Ready Certificates
In addition to cloud services, DeshCyber is working closely with SSL certificate providers to ensure that your cryptographic certificates are quantum-ready. These certificates are designed to resist quantum attacks, offering robust protection for your website, applications, and communications.
Why Businesses Must Act Now
Although quantum computers capable of breaking RSA encryption on a large scale may still be a few years away, businesses cannot afford to wait. Data breaches happen now, and adversaries may be harvesting encrypted data today, intending to decrypt it later with quantum computing. By preparing now, organizations can future-proof their security infrastructure.
DeshCyber’s Role in Securing the Quantum Future
As we approach the age of quantum computing, the need for QuantumSafe Cryptography becomes critical. DeshCyber is here to help you navigate this complex landscape with our quantum-safe solutions. Whether you’re transitioning to quantum-resistant encryption through Azure or IBM, or securing your communications with quantum-ready SSL certificates, DeshCyber is committed to keeping your business secure against future threats.
