Jerry Petersen
Garland Garris of Accenture Federal Services said in a recent column that his company is already working with multiple federal government agencies to help bolster their defenses against cryptographic threats posed by quantum computing.
In an opinion column posted Wednesday on LinkedIn, Garris, who serves as quantum lead at AFS, described the technology as a generational change and highlighted the fact that the U.S. is being outpaced by adversaries in terms of investments in the field, a portion of which he believes is aimed at overcoming conventional cryptography.
The AFS official also posited that discussions about the cybersecurity threats posed by cryptographically relevant quantum computers can be used as a vehicle to open up conversation about quantum in government in general.
Garris recommends that agencies take advantage of a recent Office of Management and Budget memorandum titled “Administration Cybersecurity Priorities for the FY 2025 Budget” to take a big-picture look at all the impacts of quantum computing and lay the groundwork for future quantum spending. AFS can help with such an effort with the use of “a defined methodology for iterating through an agency’s technology ecosystem and aligning it with the pillars of Zero Trust.”
Garris went on to call on agencies to “start now to build up their quantum-resistant defenses, as well as to explore future quantum-supported mission enhancements” to benefit from the revolutionary change the technology is set to bring.
