Telefónica Tech and IBM announced a collaboration agreement to develop and deliver security solutions that address the security challenges posed by future quantum computers.
Quantum computing will enable more advanced calculations but, in the same vein, poses challenges to traditional encryption algorithms, as they risk becoming obsolete. While this quantum computer is not yet available, data could be vulnerable to harvesting by cyber criminals for future decryption.
Because of this, IBM has developed quantum-safe focused enterprise software and research-driven assets for a holistic solution to anticipated quantum risks.
IBM Guardium Quantum Safe, part of the broader IBM Guardium Data Security Center, helps organisations gain visibility and manage cryptography to address vulnerabilities, guide prioritisation and remediation, and improve security posture. It also includes IBM Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager, which provides centralised, secured, and scalable encryption key management.
Complementing these are IBM Quantum Safe Explorer and IBM Quantum Safe Remediator, technology assets for discovering cryptographic vulnerabilities in code, testing quantum safe algorithm performance, and establishing quantum safe proxies.
As part of the agreement, both companies will work together to combine IBM’s quantum-safe technology with Telefónica Tech’s experience in providing managed and professional cybersecurity services with the overall aim being to create solutions that provide security to companies and public administrations against the new and future security risks of a post-quantum world.
The solutions being discussed will be designed to protect organisations’ critical data from being decrypted by quantum computers by implementing quantum-safe cryptography standards defined by the US NIST. IBM has co-developed two of the three algorithms that have been published as post-quantum cryptography standards.
“Quantum computing offers incredible opportunities, but it could also pose a significant challenge in terms of cybersecurity,” said Raquel Ruiz Lozano, Global Head of Strategic Partnerships for Telefónica Tech. “This collaboration agreement with IBM allows us to continue to help address the potential risks of the post-quantum world, thanks to its IBM’s quantum safe technology, and to offer our clients solutions to help protect their critical data and face this transformation with security and confidence.”
“It is critical for organisations to begin evaluating their cryptography and planning a transition to quantum-safe standards. At IBM, we are proud not only to have had a hand in the development of new post-quantum cryptography algorithms, but also to be leading the way with new quantum-safe technologies and services. We are thrilled to sign this collaboration agreement with Telefónica Tech focused on quantum safe technology,” added Adolfo Hernández Pulido, Technology Managing Director for Telefónica at IBM.
The prospective integration of IBM’s quantum-safe technologies into Telefónica Tech’s portfolio of services is being engineered to enhance the proactive risk assessments capable of being carried out by Telefónica Tech’s operations professionals with the aim of helping organisations identify and address cryptography vulnerabilities in their infrastructures.
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