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Cybersecurity Challenges: Toshiba’s Quantum Key Distribution Upholding Data Integrity

Data, the linchpin of contemporary society, exerts profound influence across industries, scientific realms, and societal progress. Its conscientious collection, analysis, and safeguarding are imperative for propelling advancements while upholding privacy and security. Ensuring data protection is pivotal for maintaining confidentiality, fostering trust, adhering to regulations, bolstering financial security, countering cyber threats, preserving individual privacy, sustaining business continuity, and navigating the intricacies of the digital landscape.

The spectrum of threats facing data encompasses various cyberattacks such as malware, phishing, and DDoS assaults, posing risks to both data integrity and availability. Globally, the staggering number of threats blocked surpassed 85 billion in the initial half of 2023, encompassing 37 billion email threats and 46 billion malicious files. As per Government of India (GoI), hacking incidents targeted 36 websites of ministries and departments across central and state governments, while financial institutions encountered over 4.29 lakh cyber security incidents within the same timeframe.

While organizations rigorously devise policies and technical standards in the cyberspace to counter threats, the initial stride rests in protection through the implementation of zero trust policies and robust data encryption methods.

Toshiba's Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): Reshaping Security Paradigms

The public key cryptography used to protect our sensitive data today will be rendered insecure by the wide scale availability of powerful quantum computers. It is critical that we keep our important confidential data quantum-safe – and doing so requires a new approach to security. Toshiba’s QKD solutions can deliver trusted customer experiences and to grow your business with a holistic, adaptive approach to data privacy based on zero trust principles and proven data privacy protection.

The QKD technology is ready for deployment and integrates quantum-safe security measures, presenting an impregnable shield against adversaries’ computing prowess. This attribute ensures resilience, rendering their computational might futile in breaching security. Its immunity to evolving landscapes in these realms ensures a lasting, unwavering defense that remains steadfast against the tide of future developments.

Toshiba's Quantum-Safe Solutions: Securing Tomorrow's Data Today:

Toshiba's QKD technology comes in two variants - the multiplexed system which can be operated on data carrying fiber, and the long-distance system for the highest possible key rate and range.

Multiplexed QKD System (MU QKD): The MU QKD system allows operation on data carrying fiber, thereby removing the requirement for costly dark fiber. It uses a quantum channel with wavelength in the telecom O-Band, leaving the C-band free for customer traffic. It can operate in the conventional mode with a fiber pair carrying uni-direction traffic, or with a single fiber carrying bi-direction quantum and classical signals. With a typical key rate of 300kb/s, the MU QKD system ensures steadfast data transmission up to a range of 90km+.

Long Distance QKD System (LD QKD): The LD QKD System operates with a quantum channel in the telecom C-band for the longest possible range and highest possible secure key rate. With a typical key rate of 300kb/s, the LD QKD system ensures steadfast data transmission up to a range of 150km+

What sets these systems apart is their implementation of the advanced BB84 protocol featuring decoy states and phase encoding, ensuring top-tier security for your data. With a key failure probability of less than 10-10—equivalent to less than once in 30,000 years— your information remains safeguarded at all times. At the heart of this technology lies Toshiba's proprietary self-differencing semiconductor detectors, enhancing sensitivity and accuracy in data capture.

In September 2023, Toshiba announced strategic investment in quantum technology with opening of cutting-edge commercial hub with product development and manufacturing facility in the UK. The new Quantum Technology Centre is a fully commercialised business operating with Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation, and will not only work to commercialise Toshiba’s innovative quantum-secure networking technologies, but also manufacture initial products such as its QKD system. The investment will also initially create over 30 new roles across a broad range of disciplines, ranging from business development to production.

Real-World Applications Showcasing Toshiba's QKD Efficacy

The reliability and stability of Toshiba's QKD systems has been demonstrated in numerous deployments. The Toshiba product boasts proven track records in multiple quantum-safe network testbeds and industry use case developments across the US, UK, France, South Korea, Japan and others.

Testbed: Securing the future quantum economy, today: BT and Toshiba launched the trial of a world first commercial quantum-secured metro network. The infrastructure is able to connect numerous customers across London, helping them to secure the transmission of valuable data and information between multiple physical locations over standard fiber optic links using QKD. EY is the network's first trial customer. HSBC becomes first bank to join the network. Read More

Use Case: Securing the future of financial transaction: JPMorgan Chase, Toshiba and Ciena build the first QKD network used to secure mission-critical blockchain application and demonstrated the full viability of a first-of-its-kind QKD network for metropolitan areas, resistant to quantum computing attacks and capable of supporting 800 Gbps data rates for missioncritical applications under real-world environmental conditions. Read More

Use Case: Field experiment of IPsec QKD-VPN: Softbank and Toshiba Digital Solutions collaborate to realize a Quantum Secure Network for Beyond5G/6G and successfully completed a field experiment for inter-site communication with a QKD and VPN connection. Read More

In November 2023, Toshiba and SpeQtral, a leading quantum communications technology company announced strengthening their collaboration following the announcement of the award for the prestigious National Quantum-Safe Networks+ (NQSN+) Project, Singapore's first nationwide quantum-safe network. To implement this project in the next several years, SpeQtral will leverage Toshiba's leading fiber-based QKD and Quantum Key Management System (Q-KMS) product suite.

Toshiba's QKD: Fortifying India's Cyber Defense Against Evolving Threats

India, like many nations, faces the daunting challenge of safeguarding its digital assets against sophisticated cyberattacks that threaten its critical infrastructure. In this digital battleground, QKD emerges as a beacon of hope in fortifying India's defense against cyber threats. QKD represents a ground-breaking solution that harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics to secure communication channels by employing quantum encryption keys. This advanced technology offers an unprecedented level of protection against hacking attempts, ensuring data confidentiality through the creation of unbreakable encryption.

By implementing QKD, India can bolster its cyber defense strategies and mitigate the risk of cyberattacks on its critical digital infrastructure. This revolutionary approach not only addresses current vulnerabilities but also stands as a pivotal step toward securing the nation's technological landscape, enabling a safer and more resilient digital future for India and its citizens, turning on the promise of a new day.