La Casa Blanca da un salto cuántico al reconocer la amenaza de la computación cuántica

On Wednesday, the Biden-Harris administration announced two Presidential directives that advance national initiatives in quantum science and raise awareness of the potential threats quantum computing will bring to the integrity of internet security. In doing so, the administration recognizes that as quantum computing matures, no data is safe from future attacks. Therefore, the potential impact of this technology threatens both national security and the very foundation upon which internet security is based, RSA cryptography. 

According to Reuters, the U.S. is in an ongoing race against other nations to develop quantum technology — with an emphasis on quantum computing— which could advance developments in artificial intelligence, materials science, and chemistry. Unlike standard computers, quantum computers can operate millions of times faster than today’s supercomputers. According to the National Security Agency’s press release, a quantum computer of sufficient size and sophistication will be able to break much of the public-key cryptography used on digital systems across the United States — and the world. A quantum computer could also jeopardize civilian and military communications and undermine control systems for critical infrastructure, said GEN Paul M. Nakasone, Commander, USCYBERCOM, Director, NSA/Chief, CSS. 

Nuevas directivas cuánticas impulsan la ciberseguridad

The two quantum directives announced on Wednesday point to the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to this critical technology. According to a White House fact sheet, these directives “lay the groundwork for continued American leadership in an enormously promising field of science and technology, while mitigating the risks that quantum computers pose to America’s national and economic security.”

The first directive is an Executive Order that will bolster the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee, the government’s independent advisory body for quantum information science and technology. The committee will guide policymaking and will work directly under the White House to ensure President Biden, Congress, federal agencies, and the public have the latest, most accurate information about advances in quantum technology.

The second directive is a National Security Memorandum that supports quantum information sciences and outlines steps to mitigate the risks posed to America’s cybersecurity infrastructure. Quantum computing has the potential to render the current cryptographic standard virtually useless and could impact all areas of security used to encrypt web traffic. To address this risk, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will publish new quantum-resistant cryptographic standards to protect against future attacks.

The memorandum outlines four major areas of focus:

• Posiciona a Estados Unidos para seguir siendo un líder global en el desarrollo tecnológico y la ciencia de la información cuántica
• Inicia la colaboración entre el gobierno federal y el sector privado
• Establece requisitos para que las agencias federales actualicen los sistemas criptográficos
• Protege la tecnología de Estados Unidos

En particular, el memorando destaca la necesidad de colaboración entre los sectores público y privado para abordar las amenazas que plantea la tecnología cuántica. Las entidades gubernamentales por sí solas no pueden abordar y prevenir con éxito estas amenazas. El sector privado dispone de soluciones para habilitar no solo la criptografía, sino también la gestión de claves necesaria para que ambas partes se defiendan con éxito de las amenazas cuánticas, por lo que es imperativo que trabajen juntos.

Ahora es el momento de planificar la llegada de la computación cuántica

I am often asked when organizations should start thinking about and planning for the impending arrival of quantum computing. The directives set by the White House now make my answer a lot easier and convey a sense of urgency – the time is NOW.  While quantum technology is still maturing and the threats are minimal today, the time it takes for an organization to become crypto-agile can be significant. It’s never too early to plan ahead and you can start by reading our ebook: Crypto-agile PKI for the Future.