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Work item:
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TR.hybsec-qkdn
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Subject/title:
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Technical Report: Overview of hybrid security approaches applicable to QKD
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Status:
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[Carried to next study period]
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Approval process:
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Agreement
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Type of work item:
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Technical report
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Version:
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New
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Equivalent number:
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-
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Timing:
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-
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Liaison:
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-
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Supporting members:
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-
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Summary:
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Since the last 5 years, quantum computing has become a new serious threat for the security of existing and future communication networks. The migration of legacy networks to quantum-safe (i.e., secure against quantum computing) networks is a complex task that needs to be well prepared. In this context, new working groups have been created in several SDOs. These groups have developed or are developing several standards on the topic of quantum-safe security.
This Technical Report provides a landscape of the standardization activities on hybrid approaches for migration towards quantum-safe algorithms or protocols within international, regional and national organizations. The hybrid approaches that are covered by this technical report are for key exchange and authentication.
Firstly, most of these standardization activities are envisioned and performed by experts in post-quantum cryptography. However, the compatibility of those published or under study standards with QKD has not been verified presently despite the fact that QKD protocols are also key exchange protocols. Nevertheless, the proposed hybrid approaches for key exchange might not be directly applicable to QKD based on existing standards. This Technical Report presents the possible way forward to accommodate QKD protocols in the context of the hybrid approaches for key exchange.
This compatibility is studied for generic hybrid key exchange and hybrid key exchange specific to certain communication protocols.
Secondly, QKD protocols need to exploit authentication mechanisms. In turn, hybrid approaches for authentication could allow the integration in QKD protocols of an authentication mechanism that is compatible with QKD security proofs and is recognized by security certification bodies. This Technical Report presents the standardized authentication approaches and verifies their compatibility with the QKD protocol requirements.
Finally, this Technical Report identifies the gaps in existing or on-going standardization works on hybrid approaches to make them usable with or useful for QKD protocols.
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Comment:
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-
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Reference(s):
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Historic references:
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Contact(s):
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First registration in the WP:
2021-05-04 10:24:34
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Last update:
2021-09-10 16:04:44
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