When it comes to the cybersecurity of military assets – land, sea and air - the advent of quantum computing challenges the foundations upon which current secure encrypted communications are built. Modern military forces rely upon a steady stream of secure, authentic data and the ability to communicate securely in order to be effective and stay safe. A world where encryption is easily broken could quickly compromise defences and add to conflict.

Senetas, a global encryption industry leader based in Australia, has been actively tackling the quantum threat problem before it rears its head. It emphasises the need to adopt quantum-resistant encryption now so that today’s sensitive long-life data is secure in a post-quantum world. Specialising in high-speed encryption technologies for secure network communications, Senetas network encryptors protect data, voice and video communications against quantum computing threats.

With a history spanning over 25 years protecting the world’s most sensitive government, defence and commercial data, Senetas's contribution to the field of high-speed encryption is significant. The company's recent developments, including the imminent introduction of the CypherNET CN7000 Series, reflect its ongoing efforts to adapt to and mitigate emerging threats, such as those posed by quantum computing. In fact, Senetas was the first to introduce quantum-resistant high-speed network encryptors.

The CN7000 Series is part of Senetas's CypherNET platform, designed to provide ‘military-grade’ network encryption security for communications in diverse and challenging operating environments. These encryptors respond to the increasing need for secure communication channels in the field – military and critical infrastructure operations - that can operate reliably in various operational land, sea and air scenarios, including those subjected to extreme conditions. The CN7000 takes the Senetas CypherNET platform, which is the last mile of business and defence operations.

One of the critical aspects of Senetas's approach to the quantum computing challenge is the emphasis on cryptographic agility. Cryptographic agility also enables the CN7000 to meet customers’ choice for the integration of custom algorithms and entropy sources, facilitating a tailored encryption strategy that can adapt to specific sovereign security requirements. 

CN7000 encryptors are engineered to be versatile, with various form factors designed to meet the unique demands of in-field operations. This versatility ensures that the CN7000 may be deployed in scenarios ranging from vehicles in harsh environments such as deserts or at sea, through to stationary critical infrastructure installations (e.g. energy) requiring high levels of security.

Senetas’s commitment to network agility sees the inclusion of Transport Independent Mode (TIM) in the CN7000's design. TIM facilitates encryption across all network layers, offering a solution that is both agile and resistant to the future threats of quantum computing while maintaining efficiency and minimising latency. It goes without saying that, like all CypherNET encryptors, the CN7000 Series is 100% compatible/interoperable. 

While Senetas is among the entities working to fortify network communications against emerging threats, the broader industry's response to quantum computing has been slow. Governments around the world have begun encompassing a range of strategies and solutions aimed at securing digital communications in the quantum era, most notably in the US with the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act (legislated in 2022). 

As the landscape of cybersecurity transforms with the progression of quantum computing, the efforts of companies like Senetas in developing quantum-resistant encryption technologies will be crucial in navigating the uncertainties of this new frontier.