Decades After Y2K Panic Comes Y2Q Pressure
Quantum Computing attorney Jacob Schneider was quoted in an article published by The Cyber Edge about how the U.S. government is responding to the cybersecurity risks posed by quantum technology. Although quantum computers are still relatively new, they have the potential to undermine current encryption systems in use throughout the world. Several countries have already invested billions of dollars in research programs as well as enacted legislation to prepare. The U.S. passed the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act late last year, and the law directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance for the transition to post-quantum cryptography for nonmilitary federal agencies. Mr. Schneider commented on what laws like this mean for data protection mechanisms.
"The [Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness] Act cannot protect already compromised data from later decryption. Still, the government's acknowledgment and mitigation of future threats is an important step toward protecting its data in the future," he said.