Quantum Key Distribution
The carrier conducted trials ahead of 5G launches and says it is one of the first to pilot QKD in the US.
Verizon announces 5G network security advances and deploys Quantum Key Distribution network. The
carrier conducted trials ahead of 5G launches and says it is one of the first to pilot QKD!
Verizon on Thursday made two announcements related to security. The first involves a series of
successful trials to future proof its 5G network against security threats and to implement advanced
security measures to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Verizon's 5G network, the
company said.
The carrier also announced reaching a milestone in future-proofing data from hackers following
a trial in the Washington, D.C. area that it said demonstrates how quantum-based technology can
strengthen security.
With the advent of 5G wireless communications and a new era of network connectivity comes
the need for new security measures to protect against threats and ensure the reliability and
resilience of communications services, the carrier said.
"As the design and deployment of networks becomes more complicated and the capabilities of
networks allow for much more advanced and robust systems, securing those networks is the
highest priority," said Srini Kalapala, vice president of network planning for Verizon, in a
statement.
Use of quantum-based technology to improve security
Additionally, the carrier said it recently conducted a trial in the D.C. area deploying a QKD
network on which quantum keys were created and exchanged over a fiber network between
Verizon locations.
During the trial, video streams were encrypted and delivered more securely allowing the
recipient to see the video in real time while ensuring hackers are instantly detected, according to
Verizon.
With QKD, encryption keys are continuously generated and are immune to attacks because any
disruption to the channel breaks the quantum state of photons signaling eavesdroppers are
present, Verizon said.
"We continue to innovate and discover new ways to ensure safe networks and communications
down the road for both consumers and enterprises," said Nicki Palmer, chief product innovation
officer at Verizon. "In testing advanced security technologies, our QKD trial demonstrates how
quantum-based technology can strengthen data security today and in the future."
Quantum computers are believed to be able to solve certain computational problems significantly
faster than classical computers, eventually making it easier for hackers to crack math-based
encryption keys. Because there is a limit to how many unique number combinations can be
generated today, hackers using the increased compute power of quantum computers will be able
to decrypt users' data more easily, according to Verizon.
"The use of quantum mechanics is a great step forward in data security," said Christina
Richmond, an analyst at IDC, in a statement. "Verizon's own tests, as well other industry testing,
have shown that deriving 'secret keys' between two entities via light photons effectively blocks
perfect cloning by an eavesdropper if a key intercept is attempted."
Current technological breakthroughs have proved that both the quantum channel and encrypted
data channel can be sent over a single optical fiber, Richmond added.
Network advances
The carrier also said it has added security network accelerators to improve latency and
operational efficiency. The additional hardware supports security functions such as firewalls,
IDS, DDoS, probes, and packet brokers, which are deployed throughout the network, Verizon
said.
In partnership with the University of California at Santa Barbara, Verizon said it is also testing
the use of AI and machine learning to develop a security framework that will manage the
security around the flow of information and how it is interpreted and used.
The carrier said it is also working with network security company GuardTime on a trial using
cryptographically secure functions to create digital fingerprints of data and store them in a
blockchain so they cannot be modified. By comparing fingerprints stored in the blockchain to
fingerprints taken during or after a cyberattack, companies can more quickly and easily
determine if the integrity of their data was compromised, Verizon said.
When complete, Verizon engineers will be able to leverage machine state integrity to protect the
data on its network, the carrier said.
Connected vehicles
In other Verizon network news, the carrier has teamed with LG on a secure credentialing
management system (SCMS) for connected vehicles. The SCMS provides digitally signed
certificates and activation codes that are used to validate vehicle safety messages, the carrier
said.
The Verizon and LG team validated and secured CV2X basic safety messages (BSMs) using a
standards compliant SCMS hosted on a Verizon 5G multi-access edge computing (MEC)
network. The trial, which Verizon said demonstrates how 5G MEC can be used for connected
vehicle security, was conducted at the Mcity Test Track in Ann Arbor, MI.
