Quantum cryptography took its first steps into the mainstream with
last week's business-focused demonstrations at the Department of
Trade & Industry's headquarters in London.
Quantum cryptography has been predicted to revolutionise
information security. However, it has yet to make an impact with
potential business users.
Quantum Information Partners, an organisation helping to build the
UK's lead in this technology, worked with the DTI for several
months to organise last week's briefing and demonstration, called
"Out of the laboratory into the marketplace". It trialled quantum
cryptography products from MagiQ, Qinetiq and Toshiba
Cambridge.
Using quantum cryptography, senders and receivers of sensitive data
will no longer need to share a common code, with all the inherent
risks of third parties compromising the system either by obtaining
this code, or intercepting the transmissions, breaking the code and
reading the messages.
Quantum cryptography not only provides codeless encryption, but
also enables the parties transmitting information to detect if
anyone is eavesdropping on their communications.
Like all radical technologies, this breakthrough will require new
thinking in developing message processing systems, the implications
of which were discussed at the trials.
"The next step now is to start installing pilot schemes, so I think
this could turn out to be the defining start of the quantum
information processing age," said Charles Hughes, partner at
Quantum Information Partners.
"Changing security systems involves long lead times. Every
executive with responsibility for secure communications needs to be
fully acquainted with these developments."