ITMO University will begin developing unbreakable storage systems
According to some experts, the value of the quantum cryptography market by 2018 will reach $ 1 billion. Therefore, it is not surprising that active development is ongoing in this area. For example, at the end of February this year, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Nokia's telecommunications equipment manufacturer and SK Telecom, a mobile operator, presented their prototype quantum cryptographic system.
A year earlier, scientists from the University of Cambridge and Toshiba demonstrated the cryptographic quantum key distribution technology, which is twice as fast as similar solutions. Developments in the field of cryptographic technologies are also being conducted in Russia.
/ Flickr / adam foster / cc
Quantum defense is based on a physical principle, according to which it is impossible to read the state of a photon without consequences. The first exposure changes the particle, which indicates an attempt to access the channel by a third party.
“Thus, the information that is transmitted in the form of single-photon laser pulses through existing fiber-optic communication channels is protected from listening, and hacking the system, in fact, contradicts the laws of physics,” said Arthur Glame, CEO of Quantum Communications , established at ITMO University base.
Scientists at ITMO University have long been involved in quantum technology issues and haveexperience in developing quantum communication systems. This is, in particular, research work, in the framework of which it was proposed to generate single photons (storage media) as a result of phase modulation of classical pulses and to transmit quantum signals over long distances through an optical cable.
At the same time, the system developed by Quantum Communications is based on the use of frequency subcarriers (quantum signals are transmitted to the side frequencies). The principle of operation of such a system is as follows: a pulse generated by a laser (at a given frequency) is passed through an electro-optical phase modulator. A signal at a lower frequency is applied to the modulator, as a result of which coding is carried out by the parameters of the auxiliary sine wave. Quantum information itself is transmitted by detuning additional frequencies (there may be several) in the pulse spectrum relative to the center frequency.
In this case, the spectrum is transmitted over the communication lines in a single pulse, therefore, any changes that the transmission medium makes affect the entire pulse. Such an approach allows not only to track any interferences in the process of information transfer, but also to remove restrictions on the speed and range of data transfer and increase the efficiency of quantum cryptographic systems in optical networks.
Such systems in the future will create a new type of infrastructure. In the future, we will see how integrated software-defined networks appear, using both secure quantum key distribution systems and traditional encryption to protect data. You can also expect the appearance of quantum repeaters (for example, SK Telecom is already engaged inthe creation of so-called trusted nodes), designed to increase the distance for the transfer of quantum keys.
Scientists at ITMO University will also take part in building a new safe world. Recently, the University team won a government grant to create a geo-distributed data center management system. The main feature is communication channels protected by quantum technologies.
The project was initiated by the provider of telecommunication networks and communication services - SMARTS company. The project itself was divided into two stages. First, software packages for managing data centers based on SDN and virtualization technologies will be implemented. Then, quantum data protection channels will be introduced into the solution. It is important to note that the quantum part will be developed with an eye to working with distributed data centers (DPC).
Typically, the majority of all IT infrastructure costs are in storage systems. According toStatista business statistics portal, this figure was $ 46.5 billion in 2016, and in 2019 it will increase to 51.3 billion. The developers note that the system being created will increase the security of data storage and transmission and more efficiently spend the resources allocated for this purpose.
“Currently, large organizations place their data centers in various cities of a single country, in different countries and even on different continents. And the task of increasing the efficiency of using the total resources of a distributed system is urgent for these companies, ” says Oleg Sadov, a leading employee of the network technology laboratory in distributed computer systems.
Now the university team is working on systems that can integrate into the IT infrastructure in the usual way for telecommunications operators - the emphasis will be on a modular approach. As the project manager and dean of the Faculty of Infocommunication Technologies Sergey Khoruzhnikov notes, the system will be created using software-customizable solutions and resource virtualization.
Thus, developers want to set a new level of user interaction when various technical aspects are scaled to individual needs. The team is working on an unbreakable and efficiently managed data center technology. And since scientists create only separate elements of such systems in other projects, the development of ITMO University, according to Sergei Khruzhnikov, has no analogues in the world. At the end of the three-year grant period, scientists will present prototypes of all the components needed to operate the system.
PS More news from our lives: ITMO University begins training IT-specialists in the field of neurotechnology .
A year earlier, scientists from the University of Cambridge and Toshiba demonstrated the cryptographic quantum key distribution technology, which is twice as fast as similar solutions. Developments in the field of cryptographic technologies are also being conducted in Russia.
/ Flickr / adam foster / ccQuantum experience
Quantum defense is based on a physical principle, according to which it is impossible to read the state of a photon without consequences. The first exposure changes the particle, which indicates an attempt to access the channel by a third party.
“Thus, the information that is transmitted in the form of single-photon laser pulses through existing fiber-optic communication channels is protected from listening, and hacking the system, in fact, contradicts the laws of physics,” said Arthur Glame, CEO of Quantum Communications , established at ITMO University base.
Scientists at ITMO University have long been involved in quantum technology issues and haveexperience in developing quantum communication systems. This is, in particular, research work, in the framework of which it was proposed to generate single photons (storage media) as a result of phase modulation of classical pulses and to transmit quantum signals over long distances through an optical cable.
At the same time, the system developed by Quantum Communications is based on the use of frequency subcarriers (quantum signals are transmitted to the side frequencies). The principle of operation of such a system is as follows: a pulse generated by a laser (at a given frequency) is passed through an electro-optical phase modulator. A signal at a lower frequency is applied to the modulator, as a result of which coding is carried out by the parameters of the auxiliary sine wave. Quantum information itself is transmitted by detuning additional frequencies (there may be several) in the pulse spectrum relative to the center frequency.
In this case, the spectrum is transmitted over the communication lines in a single pulse, therefore, any changes that the transmission medium makes affect the entire pulse. Such an approach allows not only to track any interferences in the process of information transfer, but also to remove restrictions on the speed and range of data transfer and increase the efficiency of quantum cryptographic systems in optical networks.
Such systems in the future will create a new type of infrastructure. In the future, we will see how integrated software-defined networks appear, using both secure quantum key distribution systems and traditional encryption to protect data. You can also expect the appearance of quantum repeaters (for example, SK Telecom is already engaged inthe creation of so-called trusted nodes), designed to increase the distance for the transfer of quantum keys.
Scientists at ITMO University will also take part in building a new safe world. Recently, the University team won a government grant to create a geo-distributed data center management system. The main feature is communication channels protected by quantum technologies.
New project plan
The project was initiated by the provider of telecommunication networks and communication services - SMARTS company. The project itself was divided into two stages. First, software packages for managing data centers based on SDN and virtualization technologies will be implemented. Then, quantum data protection channels will be introduced into the solution. It is important to note that the quantum part will be developed with an eye to working with distributed data centers (DPC).
Typically, the majority of all IT infrastructure costs are in storage systems. According toStatista business statistics portal, this figure was $ 46.5 billion in 2016, and in 2019 it will increase to 51.3 billion. The developers note that the system being created will increase the security of data storage and transmission and more efficiently spend the resources allocated for this purpose.
“Currently, large organizations place their data centers in various cities of a single country, in different countries and even on different continents. And the task of increasing the efficiency of using the total resources of a distributed system is urgent for these companies, ” says Oleg Sadov, a leading employee of the network technology laboratory in distributed computer systems.
Now the university team is working on systems that can integrate into the IT infrastructure in the usual way for telecommunications operators - the emphasis will be on a modular approach. As the project manager and dean of the Faculty of Infocommunication Technologies Sergey Khoruzhnikov notes, the system will be created using software-customizable solutions and resource virtualization.
Thus, developers want to set a new level of user interaction when various technical aspects are scaled to individual needs. The team is working on an unbreakable and efficiently managed data center technology. And since scientists create only separate elements of such systems in other projects, the development of ITMO University, according to Sergei Khruzhnikov, has no analogues in the world. At the end of the three-year grant period, scientists will present prototypes of all the components needed to operate the system.
PS More news from our lives: ITMO University begins training IT-specialists in the field of neurotechnology .
