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Episode Description:
When quantum computing pioneer Michele Mosca met Peter Shor in the 1990s, he thought quantum computing was "science fiction." Now, he's warning that we're just "a few quarters" away from quantum computers capable of shattering the encryption protecting our global financial system, government communications, and critical infrastructure.
In this must-listen episode, the Oxford-educated mathematician and co-founder of Evolution Q breaks down why symmetric key infrastructure (SKI) and "cryptographic resilience" are essential as quantum computing advances faster than our security preparations. With remarkable clarity, Mosca explains how the nine-year NIST standardization process signals both progress and concerning delays in our quantum readiness.
The interview explores why most organizations are unprepared, how quantum networks could provide a novel security solution, and what businesses should be doing now to protect their long-term data security. Mosca also details the latest breakthroughs in quantum error correction across ion traps, neutral atoms, and superconducting qubits that are bringing us closer to fault-tolerant quantum computing.
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Episode Highlights:
"I met Don Coppersmith... he told me he was helping a colleague improve his algorithm where you'd trap these atoms and you'd shine lasers on them, do exponentiation and then do a Fourier transform... I thought he was joking. I'd never heard of this before."
"We look at it as an engineering challenge. Oh, how much does it cost to scale this up? By a factor of 10 or 100 or 1,000, but 1,000, it's like 10 bits of security... It's not that much of a security buffer. The one we're used to in cryptography between what we could break and those we can't, we want an enormous gap."
About the Guest: Michele Mosca is a globally recognized leader in quantum computing and quantum-safe security. After earning his doctorate at Oxford, Michele has dedicated over 30 years to the development of quantum algorithms and securing systems against quantum threats. As co-founder of Evolution Q, he develops cutting-edge solutions to build cryptographic resilience against future quantum attacks. Michele has been a crucial bridge between the quantum computing and cybersecurity communities, helping organizations prepare for what he describes as "not just a technology problem" but a fundamental shift in our approach to security.
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