Work

Benchmarking hybrid quantum-safe cryptography over real-world infrastructures

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Advances in quantum computing pose a significant threat to the widely used Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). The two leading technologies to address this challenge are Post-Quantum Cryptography and Quantum Key Distribution. A promising approach is the hybridization of these technologies - combining their respective strengths while mitigating their limitations - and integrating them with the cryptographic mechanisms used today to enhance crypto-agility and facilitate transitioning to a quantum-safe infrastructure. However, changing current network protocols to quantum-safe alternatives is not just a matter of security: their efficiency and scalability must also be demonstrated within real-world telecommunications infrastructures to ensure their practical adoption. In this work, we present the first long-running test with detailed measurements of a suite of hybrid quantum-safe protocols that integrate classical cryptography, PQC, and QKD within a production environment (MadQCI). Using standardized protocols and interfaces and employing Transport Layer Security (TLS) as the base protocol for real-world comparison, this study demonstrates the efficiency and scalability of the proposed solution in deployed heterogeneous networks. These results mark a significant step towards the widespread adoption of quantum-safe hybrid protocols and contribute to clarifying the path toward their future standardization in next-generation telecommunications networks.

Source: EPJ Quantum Technology

DOI: 10.1140/epjqt/s40507-026-00521-y

Authors: Jaime S. Buruaga, Juan P. Brito, Vicente Martin

Institution: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Information and Cryptography

Subfield: Artificial Intelligence

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,190