The rapid development of quantum technologies is forcing a rethink of how we exchange information in a secure manner. Is it even possible to prevent an attack launched by a quantum computer with a classical computer? And what happens when quantum computers become as prevalent as classical computers?

“Classical processors use bits to perform their operations, whereas quantum computers use qubits (quantum bits) to run multidimensional algorithms,” said CJ Moses, CISO at AWS, at its re:Inforce 2023 conference in Anaheim in June. “Quantum computers, by encoding information in quantum systems like atoms or photons, promise to speed up some specific computational tasks that are beyond the reach of classical computers. And the amount of information a qubit system can represent grows exponentially.”