Romanian Cyber Security Journal / Fall 2024, No. 2, Vol. 6

Quantum Networks and Cyber Security. A Simulation Case Study for Point-to-Point QKD Links

Sorin SOVIANY, Cristina-Gabriela GHEORGHE, Maria GHEORGHE-MOISII

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Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of the quantum networks (QN) development for secured communications through Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocols. The main use case for QN-based Cyber Security is related to the cryptographic key exchange using QKD for the detection of passive attacks. Starting from a brief analysis of the current achievements in QN development, a topological model of a QN is proposed, close to that of the QNs already deployed under the development. The performances of QKD applications are estimated for a simulation scenario for a case study with point-to-point QKD connections. This methodology is useful for the design of QN-based security applications, as a reliable framework for estimating the expected performances, for setting and optimization of the feasible performances. The performance issues in the quantum cryptography and QN-based Cyber Security are more challenging comparing to the conventional Cyber Security, due to the probabilistic nature of the quantum processes outputs.

Keywords

Quantum networks, Quantum Key Distribution, Cyber Security, Point-to-point QKD links