NISQ Era
There is not a shred of doubt that quantum computers — when they reach their full potential — will have exponentially more computational power than the most powerful supercomputers on the planet. Fundamentally different in every way possible, most of them on offer now by the likes of IBM and Google are early versions of what experts in the field call Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) Computers. These have high error rates with each operation they perform, and though they’re not world-changing at the moment, we are starting to see how they could be used to great effect for applications in quantum chemistry and quantum simulations.
In cybersecurity, too, we are witnessing advances in Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Quantum Random Number Generation (QRNG). Though it is early days, the threat of quantum computing is a near and present danger and we have to be prepared.
01 Communique
In view of this, the large corporations of industry, smaller companies and nimble startups are trying to come up with valuable solutions in Quantum-Safe Cryptography. One such company is 01 Communique and its IronCAP™ range of Post-Quantum products.
Founded way back in 1992, 01 Communique is a Toronto-based company loaded with innovations and accomplishments. Its latest technological breakthrough is in cybersecurity, and especially Quantum-Safe solutions utilizing its patent-pending IronCAP™ cryptography.
Its IronCAP™ API can be used by vendors to build highly secure systems for data storage, credit card security, remote access, encryption, digital signing, etc., which can protect their customers from cyberattacks not only today but also in the quantum future. 01 has used the IronCAP™ API to build the world’s first end-to-end email/file encryption and digital signing system called IronCAP X™. It can be easily integrated into your current email system such as Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo etc., and help to safeguard against phishing emails. Both products are designed to operate on conventional computer systems to nullify future attacks from quantum computers.
When TQD asked Andrew Cheung — 01 Communique Laboratory Inc’s president and CEO — about the product, his response was enlightening:
“We believe IronCAP™’s quantum-safe encryption solution is the best-in-class cryptography solution. It has stood the test of time — passing the due diligence of its big-name partners and has successfully completed two global hackathons unscathed.”
He also commented there is increasing concern about privacy and the protection of personal information, as well as realizing it is important to understand the impact of big cybersecurity threats and what can be done to keep enterprises and individuals secure.
Too Early or Too Late
While this is clear enough, Cheung added that making the switch in encryption methods will be a little bit of a chore but with new developments in quantum computing fast progressing every day, the question is whether people have the foresight to deploy quantum-resistant encryption may be two years too early, or risk installing it two years too late.
All insightful information, no doubt, as it compounds the fact Cheung and his team are on the front foot as far as the inflection point goes within the industry, noticeable apparent in the CEO’s remark about the Bitcoin ATM machine and crypto E-wallet protected by IronCAP™. According to Cheung, “Once hailed as unhackable, the blockchains are now under close scrutiny, especially for their endpoint infrastructure. We welcome ixFintech’s leading industry foresight to adopt the IronCAP™ technology to protect valuable digital assets — not only today — but also in the fast-approaching quantum era.”
By complying with the PKCIS#11 and OpenPGP (RFC4880) industry standards, the IronCAP API allows all kinds of vertical applications such as password management, credit card security, cloud storage, and website security — along with those already mentioned — to be transformed into quantum-safe. 01 Communique’s IronCAP™ solution is one to watch out for.
For more market insights, check out our latest quantum computing news here.
