The edge cloud use case you missed: How cloud based quantum safe encryption and NaaS have changed the game

The edge cloud use case you missed: How cloud-based quantum-safe encryption and NaaS have changed the game

We've long been focused on protecting the core - the high-capacity IP backbones that power today's communication networks. But a new and growing challenge is emerging: the threat of quantum attacks. With the rise of quantum computing, hackers could soon possess the power to break the cryptographic protocols that protect today's data.

The solution? Quantum-safe cryptography technology, specifically designed to safeguard communication channels from these advanced threats.

To reinforce their defenses, communication service providers (CSPs) are now embedding quantum-safe encryption solutions in high-bandwidth transport systems and IP backbones.

But is securing the core enough?

What about securing the path to those IP backbones? Financial institutions, healthcare providers and energy companies demand security that extends beyond the core, all the way to their private networks. Their endpoints - where their connections are most numerous - are also their most vulnerable. As these businesses expand, so do their endpoints, increasing their attack surface. And with no single provider able to cover all endpoints with on-net fiber, vulnerabilities remain.

The rise of NaaS

Another change occurring is a shift in network buying models. Large and mid-size enterprises are moving away from traditional managed telco services to network-as-a-service (NaaS) plans. With NaaS, the enterprise IT professional can quickly build virtualized networking services on demand, without lengthy commercial processes. What once took months can now be achieved in minutes, and services can be terminated just as easily when no longer needed. For businesses seeking agile, scalable and easy-to-consume networking solutions, NaaS is a game-changer.

NaaS is enabled by network edge clouds operating in PoPs around the globe. These edge clouds are often the gateways, connecting endpoints with each other, as well as with cloud providers and IP backbones. NaaS-based end-to-end services may require protection from quantum attacks in specific network locations or at the end points.

As network models evolve and security concerns increase, new innovations are emerging and finding a home in edge clouds. One such innovation comes from Arqit, which has developed a virtualized network adaptor that integrates with network service applications to provide quantum-safe, shared symmetric keys that protect data-in-transit against quantum threats.

The symmetric keys are brokered by Arqit's SKA Platform™. It's a cloud-based service that enforces strong authentication at the endpoints and ensures symmetric key agreement between them, creating quantum-safe channels.

Both the network adaptors and the networking applications are hosted in edge clouds operating at the enterprise on-prem locations and NaaS points of presence (PoPs).

NaaS and quantum security - a powerful combination

Global communication provider Sparkle has recently announced plans to deliver new services that combine Arqit's quantum safe encryption with a web-based interface that allows customers to manage and configure network services. Through this portal, users can monitor performance, provision resources, adjust settings, and access support for their NaaS offerings, enabling self-service and real-time control over network functions.

Sometimes the emergence of new threats accelerates the adoption of a technology that was already gaining traction beneath the surface. Think Covid and video conferencing.

Similarly, today's quantum threats and changes in network buying models are fueling the rise of an ecosystem that includes symmetric key agreement applications, networking applications and provider-enabled NaaS portals. In the future, will we look back and say this was just another use case for edge cloud, or a primary reason we saw it accelerate?