Adva Network Security and Quantum Optics Jena have jointly demonstrated entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) technology.
The field trial took place between data centres owned and operated by Germany’s Thüringer Landesrechenzentrum (TLRZ), the IT service provider for the state’s administration in Thuringia. It leveraged Quantum Optics Jena’s entanglement-based QKD technology and Adva Network Security’s ConnectGuard Layer 1 technology to demonstrate a consistent quantum-secure connection between TLRZ data centres.
The combined solution relies on the principles of quantum mechanics to enable secure communications. Using the properties of quantum entanglement, the system generates a secure method for key exchange impervious to data interception. During one day of operation, the system sends more than 20 billion entangled photons and creates 11.84 million secure bits to generate more than 46,000 256-bit keys for encryption services such as Adva’s. The keys generated by the QKD system will always remain secure, even if a potential attacker attempts to interfere with or eavesdrop on the entangled quantum states during transmission. The Layer 1 encryption technology can ensure protection for all network layers and operates with line speeds of 10Gb/s or 100Gb/s.
The test marks a complete QKD integration into an IT infrastructure. By delivering quantum-secured keys to the encryptor of the high-bitrate optical channel, the team was able to demonstrate how data traffic could resist quantum attacks on the link between the data centres.
Kevin Füchsel, CEO at Quantum Optics Jena says: “Quantum computers may soon render traditional encryption methods obsolete, making safeguarding sensitive data an urgent priority for governments the world over. With our field trial, we’re demonstrating just how effective our innovative entanglement-based QKD system, ELVIS, is at securing data in transit. What’s more, Adva Network Security’s ConnectGuard encryption technology enables our solution to function effectively over DCI links, significantly enhancing data integrity for sectors including government, defence, healthcare and financial services.”
Dr. Hartmut Schubert, CIO of the Free State of Thuringia adds: ”We are delighted with the successful demonstration and are surprised at how quickly and easily this technology of the future can already be integrated into existing IT infrastructures.”
Michael Roth, GM of Adva Network Security concludes: “As quantum computer technology evolves, vast amounts of currently unbreakable encrypted information will become vulnerable to hackers. That’s why this trial is so crucial. Working together with Quantum Optics Jena, we’ve demonstrated how our technology can be embedded within communications networks to secure the most highly-sensitive data of financial institutions, defence organisations, healthcare and many other sectors.”
