SECURE TODAY,SECURE TOMORROWQUANTUM ORIGIN AT A GLANCE
Quantum Origin is the world’s first cryptographic key
generation platform based on verifiable quantumrandomness. It is designed to secure the world’s data fromboth current and advancing threats to today’s encryption.
Quantum Origin is a cloud-hosted platform that uses
the unpredictable nature of quantum mechanics togenerate superior cryptographic keys. Each key isseeded with verifiable quantum randomness drawn fromquantum computers. The platform supports traditional
cryptographic algorithms, such as RSA or AES, as well as
post-quantum algorithms currently being standardised by
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

THREATS TO MODERN ENCRYPTION
Cyber security relies on multiple layers of defence todefeat attackers. The foundation of these layers is thecryptographic keys that encrypt sensitive information.
Strong cryptographic keys must be completelyunguessable to an attacker. This means the creation ofhigh quality randomness is at the heart of key generation.
Today, companies use cryptographic keys that are nottruly random. In one recent study, researchers uncovered
nearly half a million certificates in active use that are so
fundamentally weak, they can easily be broken by today’s
computers.1The problem is caused by existing RNGs, which cannot
generate verifiable randomness. The numbers theygenerate are not fundamentally unpredictable, and so
the resulting cryptographic keys are not suitably strong.
As a result, such RNGs have been the point of failure in a
growing number of cyber attacks.

11

Kilgallin et al Factoring RSA Keys in the IoT Era, First IEEE International Conference on Trust, Privacy 1 1and Security in Intelligent Systems and Applications, 2021

© 2022 by Quantinuum. All rights reserved.

Page 2

HACK NOW, DECRYPT LATER
In the future, quantum computers will be able to breakmany of the encryption systems we rely upon today.
Because a powerful quantum computer doesn’t exist
yet, many companies mistakenly believe the data
they exchange today is completely safe, provided it’sencrypted.
A “hack now, decrypt later” attack involves intercepting
and recording encrypted data as it passes throughpublic networks. When a powerful quantum computer
arrives, which may only be 5-10 years away, according toGoogle’s CEO2, the attacker can retrospectively break theencryption used to protect the data.
To defend against this attack, companies can movetowards using quantum-safe encryption algorithms,
such as those being standardised by the NIST postquantum cryptography process3. Quantum Origin has
been designed to support those algorithms from launch,helping customers to transition towards solutions that areresistant to quantum attack.

2

Hannah Boland, Quantum computing could end encryption within five years, says Google Boss,The Telegraph, 2021

3NIST, https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography, 2020

© 2022 by Quantinuum. All rights reserved.

Page 3

QUANTUM ORIGIN, A UNIQUE APPROACH
Every key generated by Quantum Origin is seeded4 fromverifiable quantum randomness. The word “verifiable” iscrucial because it’s the reason Quantum Origin delivers
superior security guarantees compared with othersolutions in the market.
Quantum Origin’s random number generation leverages
nature’s intrinsic randomness. According to the lawsof quantum mechanics, qubits can be prepared andmeasured in such a way as to produce an outcome of “0”or “1” with exactly 50% probability. Unlike other solutions
on the market, Quantum Origin is able to isolate thisrandomness from deterministic classical noise without
relying on strict modelling of the device. The result ismathematically-proven, near-perfect randomness,
which is used to generate superior cryptographic keys.
Other solutions may claim to generate exceptionalrandomness, however those claims are rooted in unfair
assumptions about how those devices are constructedand how they operate. Because the Quantum Origin
approach is based on a device independent protocol, we
can verify our randomness is as good as we claim it is.
The Quantum Origin platform uses a quantum computer
to generate quantum-enhanced randomness. Using
entangled qubits and the Bell Test, we verify the levelof randomness present and further refine the output
using multiple randomness extraction operations. This
ensures a near-perfect set of randomness is available forcryptographic key generation.
44The term “seeded by” means the key generation process is kick-started by ourrandomness. Anyone who could predict this seed would be able to guess thekey, hence the unpredictability of this seed is critical.

© 2022 by Quantinuum. All rights reserved.

Page 4

EASY INTEGRATION, SECURING SYSTEMSTODAY AND TOMORROWAs Quantum Origin is a cloud-hosted platform it integrates
easily with existing cryptographic systems such as virtualprivate networks, hardware security modules, public key
infrastructure, or any cryptographic system where keys
are consumed.
Quantum Origin customers request new cryptographic
keys by calling a web API. The response is an encrypted
key, which can be securely imported into existing cybersecurity systems.
Quantum Origin generates standard cryptographic keys,
such as those used in AES or RSA, as well as those usedin post-quantum algorithms. This means the platform canhelp increase the security of today’s systems, while being
future-proofed for the pending transition to post-quantum
algorithms.
By using Quantum Origin, companies can help reduce
the risk of data breaches caused by weak or inferior
keys across a wide range of use cases, see on theright side.

THE RESEARCH BEHIND QUANTUM ORIGINHybrid Encryption

Data Watermarking

Data at Rest

Identity & Access
ManagementBlockchain

Data in Transit

Secure Messaging

Internet of Things

Raw Randomness

The Quantum Origin team is supported by a researchgroup with a long history of academic success. The
researchers conduct ongoing fundamental research
into novel cyber security applications for quantum
technology. Alongside this, time is devoted to solving thepractical challenge of building real world quantum cybersecurity technology.
Many of the researchers have worked directly on topics
related to building Quantum Origin during their years inacademia. This has resulted in combined expertise acrossthe domains of cyber security, classical and quantum
cryptography, information security, pure mathematics,
experimental quantum optics and quantum information.

PATENTS
The technology underpinning Quantum Origin ispatented. Further implementation-specific patents
are pending.

© 2022 by Quantinuum. All rights reserved.

Page 5SECURE TODAY,SECURE TOMORROW
Quantinuum’s cyber security keys ensure
verifiable quantum randomness and can help
defend against threats today and into the future.

CONTACT US
Please contact our experts by emailquantumorigin@cambridgequantum.com
Visit quantinuum.com© 2022 by Quantinuum. All rights reserved.

Page 6