ETSI Releases Report on Quantum-Safe VPNs
ETSI’s Technical Committee Cyber Security has published a Technical Report on quantum-safe virtual private networks (VPNs). The report, developed by the TC CYBER Quantum-Safe Cryptography working group, explores protocol requirements to add quantum resistance to VPN technologies.
Key Points:
– The report explores requirements for quantum-safe VPNs, including client, server, and architectural considerations
– It concludes that transitioning to quantum-safe VPNs will be complex and organizations should start migration planning early
– ETSI has been working on quantum-safe cryptography for over 3 years to provide timely solutions
– VPNs are vulnerable to future quantum computer attacks and data harvested today could be decrypted later
– A hybrid approach combining quantum-safe and classical key establishment techniques is recommended
The report focuses on maintaining existing VPN properties while adding protection from quantum computers, which threaten both confidentiality and authentication. It examines security protocols like IPSec, IKE, TLS, MACsec, and SSH, discussing hybrid requirements and solutions for each.
Keywords: Confidentiality, Quantum-safe, Cryptography, VPN, Security
