The rapid proliferation of IoT devices across critical industries – e.g. automation, healthcare, smart cities – has introduced significant security challenges. Whilst current cryptographic protocols safeguard data today, upcoming developments in quantum computing threaten to render these protections obsolete. And this threat is amplified by the actions of adversarial nation states looking to disrupt critical industries whilst engaging in hybrid warfare.

This presentation explains the implications of quantum computing on IoT ecosystems.

By the end of the session, participants will have an understanding of quantum safety, what it means for IoT, and a sensible timeline of future actions.

Steven Kennedy is a seasoned cybersecurity architect with deep expertise in securing some of the most complex networks in the world (e.g. Tier 1 telecoms, hyperscale public cloud). After working for several years in Microsoft cybersecurity product management, he took the plunge to become a self-employed consultant. Working with Blue Mesh Solutions, he’s focused on using his knowledge of cryptography and quantum mechanics to help clients transition smoothly into the post-quantum future.

Richard Brooks sent the first IoT hello world message as ‘hello 5G’ across a private 5G network in the UK.

This was all part of the UK Government’s 5G Accelerator Programme and involved collaborators from Hutchinson Ports, 3 Telecom, University of Cambridge, the Port of Felixstowe and Blue Mesh Solutions. Exploratory use cases were developed including autonomous port haulage vehicles and our IoT based project to create digital twins of the large quayside container cranes.

Critical strategic assets, such as ports, require hardened IoT estate encryption, and testing new encryption technologies to present a harder, quantum safe cryptography stance became the final outcome of the project, leading to new quantum safe MQTT solutions and a best in class commercial partnership.