Adva Network Security and Quantum Optics Jena showcase German-made QKD solution

Adva Network Security and Quantum Optics Jena today announced a successful joint demo of entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) technology. The field trial leveraged quantum key generation and verification technology from Quantum Optics Jena in combination with Adva Network Security’s Layer 1 encryption solution to establish a secure optical communication channel between data centers owned and operated by the Thüringer Landesrechenzentrum (TLRZ), the IT service provider for the state’s administration in Thuringia. The test represents a milestone in the development of entanglement-based commercial QKD systems, as it is the world’s first complete integration into an IT infrastructure. By delivering quantum-secured keys to the encryptor of the high-bitrate optical channel, the team was able to show how data traffic could resist quantum attacks on the link between the data centers. The demo represents a significant leap forward for quantum-safe communications made in Germany and is a crucial step toward bolstering critical infrastructure security to protect against the real and impending threat quantum computers pose to private data.

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“Quantum computers may soon render traditional encryption methods obsolete, making safeguarding sensitive data an urgent priority for governments the world over,” said Kevin Füchsel, CEO at Quantum Optics Jena. “With our field trial, we’re demonstrating just how effective our innovative entanglement-based QKD system, ELVIS, is at securing data in transit. What’s more, Adva Network Security’s ConnectGuard^™ encryption technology enables our solution to function effectively over DCI links, significantly enhancing data integrity for sectors including government, defense, healthcare and financial services. Our combined product offering made in Germany is the world’s most mature and robust solution for securing optical communications.”

The field trial leveraged Quantum Optics Jena’s entanglement-based QKD technology and Adva Network Security’s ConnectGuard^™ Layer 1 technology to demonstrate a consistent quantum-secure connection between TLRZ data centers. The combined solution relies on the principles of quantum mechanics to enable secure communications. Using the unique properties of quantum entanglement, the system generates a secure method for key exchange impervious to data interception. During one day of operation, the system sends over 20 billion entangled photons and creates 11.84 million secure bits to generate more than 46,000 256-bit keys for encryption services like Adva Network Security’s Layer 1 encryption. The keys generated by the QKD system will always remain secure, even if a potential attacker attempts to interfere with or eavesdrop on the entangled quantum states during transmission. Adva Network Security’s Layer 1 encryption technology ensures comprehensive protection for all network layers and operates with line speeds of 10Gbit/s or 100Gbit/s.

”We are delighted with the successful demonstration and are surprised at how quickly and easily this technology of the future can already be integrated into existing IT infrastructures,” commented Dr. Hartmut Schubert, CIO of the Free State of Thuringia. “With its cooperation partners, Thuringia is at the spearhead of technological developments and once again demonstrating the region’s innovative strength.”

“As quantum computer technology evolves, vast amounts of currently unbreakable encrypted information will become vulnerable to hackers,” noted Michael Roth, GM of Adva Network Security. “That’s why this trial is so crucial. Working together with Quantum Optics Jena, we’ve demonstrated how our technology can be embedded within communications networks to secure the most highly-sensitive data of financial institutions, defense organizations, healthcare and many other sectors. Our standardized key exchange protocol assured seamless integration with the QKD technology from Quantum Optics Jena, showing how easy it is to upgrade our security solution to QKD and highlighting the future-proof nature of our products.”

About Adva Network Security

Adva Network Security has built a fierce reputation for protecting packet optical networks. We pioneered low-latency, multi-layer encryption solutions that are right now safeguarding data in motion for many mission-critical applications. Our ConnectGuard^™ security technology is even combating tomorrow’s quantum security threats. Built by the industry’s leading security experts, our German-based organization helps organizations and government agencies security-harden their networks to ensure critical infrastructure is protected against cyber threats. Our development and manufacturing processes, as well as our security solutions, have been approved and certified by leading governmental security agencies. For more information on how we can help you, please visit www.advasecurity.com.

About Quantum Optics Jena

Quantum Optics Jena develops and delivers quantum key distribution (QKD) systems based on entangled photon-pair sources and is the leading company for commercial entanglement-based solutions. The company enables the implementation of cyber security solutions based on quantum physical laws. Quantum Optics Jena covers the whole process chain from entangled photon sources, quantum state analyzers to quantum key-generation and -management systems. The company offers solutions for fiber-based networks as well as payloads and sub-systems for future QKD-satellite networks and constellations. www.qo-jena.com

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Adva Network Security GmbH, Berlin, Germany

www.advasecurity.com

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Contact information

For Adva Network Security media
Gareth Spence
+44 1904 699 358
public-relations@adva.com

For Quantum Optics Jena media
Kevin Füchsel
+49 3641 2251463
info@qo-jena.com