But what does this technology actually entail? Quantum computers operate differently than the computers we know today. Instead of bits that are 0 or 1, they use qubits that can be both 0 and 1 at the same time. This may sound abstract, but it has significant implications. Quantum computers can solve certain mathematical problems much faster than classical computers. And that difficult math is precisely the basis of almost all current forms of encryption; the secure way of encrypting information.

The biggest threat is that quantum computers will be able to crack existing security methods like RSA – widely used in internet security, email encryption, and digital signatures – in a short time. What would take a regular computer millions of years could take a powerful quantum computer just a matter of minutes. This means that encrypted information today could still be accessed in the future.

A dangerous scenario is the so-called store now, decrypt later. Here, malicious actors intercept encrypted data now, such as state secrets, medical records, or financial information. Although they cannot read it today, they store these files in anticipation of quantum technology that can break the encryption. It is no surprise that the European Commission has stated in its roadmap that the digital future must be quantum-safe.

Post-Quantum Cryptography offers a solution. This is cryptography based on mathematical problems believed to be unbreakable even with a quantum computer. The Dutch government is working on tools to manage the risks of quantum technology on cryptography in a timely manner through the Quantum-safe Cryptography program.

From the Dutch ecosystem surrounding quantum technology, there is an additional measure available in the field of information and communication security, Quantum Key Distribution, or QKD. This is a method for sharing so-called cryptographic (secret) keys between two parties. The unique aspect of this method is that any attempt to eavesdrop immediately gives a signal. As a result, the sender and receiver are alerted immediately if someone tries to spy and can break the connection. The key cannot be intercepted or copied unnoticed – something that can happen with classical cryptographic keys.

To keep the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice and Security safe in the quantum era, a pilot project has been launched to experiment with the complementary functioning of QKD.

In this project, a test setup of a quantum network has been established, and this test network has been used to investigate several cases from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this way, they test this technology in an isolated manner. And that this is something special was evident during the pre-NATO event Securing the Future. There, the ministries demonstrated during a presentation with a live demonstration that the Dutch government now has an operational quantum network and has shown that QKD and PQC work complementarily. This demonstration concretely illustrated what quantum-safe communication entails and showed that this is no longer just a future prospect, but is already working in practice.

The pilot project is a joint initiative of several ministries, including the Ministry of Justice and Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the following partners: Quantum Delta, Q*Bird, RINIS, Sogeti, the Judicial ICT Organization, and Eurofiber.

The European Commission has presented its roadmap for a digital future that is quantum-safe. The Netherlands is ready to set a good example: by investing in cryptographic resilience (PQC), strengthening through research and testing in the field of quantum technology, and building strong collaborations between government, science, and business. In this way, we are building a digital infrastructure that remains safe for future generations.

The urgency is clear: as soon as quantum computers break through in a few years, all networks and systems of the government must be quantum-safe. This means switching to Post Quantum Cryptography, encryption that is resistant to attacks from quantum computers. Additionally, it requires targeted investments in quantum technologies such as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and careful choices about which data we already protect against future decryption. Because what seems safe today may be exposed tomorrow.