Post-Quantum Cryptography–Securing Semiconductors in a Post-Quantum World

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Quantum computing advances are exciting, but they're also a looming threat to securing ICs, driving the need for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). Learn about PQC, how it's being implemented, and the legislation involved.

allaboutcircuits.com, Feb. 06, 2025 – 

Quantum computing isn't just a step forward. It's a leap. It has the potential to fundamentally upend computing and set an entirely new standard, allowing computers to solve complex problems and overcome optimization barriers that were previously thought impossible.

Google recently achieved "quantum supremacy"–a theoretical benchmark at which a quantum machine performs a task far beyond the capabilities of a non-quantum supercomputer (Figure 1). The experiment, which Google carried out to demonstrate the potential of quantum computing, would have taken a classic supercomputer almost 50 years to complete. Much is said of the AI revolution, but quantum computing will prove to be the big game changer.

However, while quantum computing promises to deliver extraordinary leaps forward in processing power, it also has the potential to render today's public key cryptography obsolete. As semiconductor technology advances, the role of cryptography in securing integrated circuits has become core to their development.

Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), are custom-designed for specific tasks, often embedded in devices in environments where security is critical, such as in communications, financial systems, and defense applications. The cryptographic algorithms embedded in these chips are the first line of defense against unauthorized access and data breaches. However, as quantum computing rises to supremacy, the cryptographic methods that have long protected these systems are now under threat.

Quantum computers, unlike classical machines, can process complex calculations at unprecedented speeds, threatening to unravel the encryption that currently safeguards sensitive data. This looming challenge has spurred the development of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), a new class of cryptographic algorithms specifically designed to resist quantum attacks. These algorithms are not just theoretical. They are rapidly being integrated into the next generation of ASICs, ensuring the products using these specialized chips remain secure against future quantum threats...

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