IonQ secures its Geneva to Seoul links with quantum keys and post-quantum crypto

[MickFoley00]

IonQ is using its own technology to protect its corporate network. Quantum Computing Report says the company has secured links between its sites in Geneva and Seoul with a two layer hybrid design combining quantum key distribution and post-quantum cryptography

In Geneva, hardware quantum key distribution runs over dark and multiplexed fibre, linking four IonQ sites. It uses Clavis series hardware from IonQ's European networking division, formerly ID Quantique

The long distance link between continents uses software VPN tunnels over public internet backbones, protected by NIST standardised post-quantum algorithms. A hybrid scheme combines the quantum derived keys with lattice based key encapsulation, so the encryption should hold even if an intermediate relay is compromised

The assets being protected include quantum processor telemetry, compiler intellectual property, internal communications and cloud execution logs. The aim is to guard against harvest now, decrypt later attacks, where encrypted traffic is stored today in the hope of breaking it with a future quantum computer. Only the Geneva metro section uses quantum key distribution, because unrepeated quantum links over fibre are limited to a few hundred kilometres

Using its own products on its own network is a good way for IonQ to show confidence in them. The announcement is light on detail, though, with no key rates, latency or uptime figures, and nobody quoted. The hybrid approach is sensible and probably the model many organisations will follow

Is combining quantum key distribution with post-quantum crypto the right approach? And should companies be worried about harvest now, decrypt later attacks?

IonQ Deploys Intercontinental Hybrid QKD and PQC Architecture Securing Enterprise Links Between Geneva and Seoul - Quantum Computing Reportquantumcomputingreport.com