The next-generation communication network driven by optical technology will be achieved in the sixth-generation mobile communication system (6G) of the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) era promoted by NTT.However, a problem of concern here is cryptographic technology.For example, even if optical circuits can be achieved, cryptographic operations in their present form would generate delays or excessive power consumption preventing the advantages of optical technology from being fully used.To solve this problem, NTT is researching technology for replacing the complex processing of cryptographic operations traditionally performed by electronic circuits with optical cryptographic operations.In this article, we talk with NTT Distinguished Researcher Junko Takahashi who devised an "optical-operations technique" supporting the IOWN era and implemented "optical cryptographic circuits."We hear about the present state of research in optical cryptographic technology and the future outlook for this research.
The next-generation communication network driven by optical technology will be achieved in the sixth-generation mobile communication system (6G) of the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) era promoted by NTT.However, a problem of concern here is cryptographic technology.For example, even if optical circuits can be achieved, cryptographic operations in their present form would generate delays or excessive power consumption preventing the advantages of optical technology from being fully used.To solve this problem, NTT is researching technology for replacing the complex processing of cryptographic operations traditionally performed by electronic circuits with optical cryptographic operations.In this article, we talk with NTT Distinguished Researcher Junko Takahashi who devised an "optical-operations technique" supporting the IOWN era and implemented "optical cryptographic circuits."We hear about the present state of research in optical cryptographic technology and the future outlook for this research.
The implementation of an optical transport network, especially between datacenters, has been progressing.Similar to the Internet, communications on the optical transport network are protected by public-key cryptography and symmetric-key cryptography, but there are concerns that advances in the research and development of quantum computers will pose a risk to current cryptographic systems, public-key cryptography and key exchange in particular.In response to this problem, researchers at NTT Social Informatics Laboratories and NTT Network Innovation Laboratories are engaged in the research and development of safe key-exchange schemes to counter the cryptographic risks posed by quantum computers.They are also engaged in architecture design and tests with actual equipment with the aim of applying such key-exchange schemes to the optical transport network.
With the exciting development and efficient evolution of 6G-oriented optical wireless Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), relevant investigations in each branch domain of medical optical wireless networks have illustrated tremendous application potential. To fill the gap of the essential security level of these optical wireless IoMT technologies in the future 6G era, more and more investigators are aggressively introducing diverse cryptography into the domain of medical and healthcare optical wireless communications and have derived a series of impressive research advancements. To present the current state of the art of cryptography and security in medical optical wireless networks, this article comprehensively reviews and discusses the cryptography-enabled optical wireless IoMT in distinct branch domains, such as secret key techniques-enabled secure optical wireless Internet of Medical Things, quantum key distribution-enabled secure optical wireless Internet of Medical Things, chaos-enabled secure optical wireless Internet of Medical Things and physical-layer security-enabled secure optical wireless Internet of Medical Things. Finally, this article summarises the potential research opportunities and future prospects of the cryptography-enabled secure optical wireless IoMT technology in the coming 6G era.
In the January 2022 issue of NTT Technical Review, we introduced the secure optical transport network for enabling secure optical transport even in the era of quantum computers.In this article, two concepts, cryptographic agility and Multi-Factor Security, which are key factors in the transition from current cryptographic techniques to quantum-resistant cryptographic techniques and need to be considered in the era of quantum computers, are explained, and our efforts to incorporate these concepts into secure optical transport networks (i.e., elastic-key-control technology and disaggregation technology for cryptographic processing) are introduced.
As sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks come into existence, there is more ever-growing demand for high-speed and secure communication than ever before. Conventional cryptographic methods are facing growing constraints to keep pace with the challenging reality of cyberattacks. Quantum-based communication technologies like quantum key distribution (QKD), quantum encryption, and quantum-resistant protocols provide an inherently secure means of transmitting data. This study examines how quantum communication technologies can be embedded within 6G architectures to provide enhanced data protection. With the help of AI and machine learning, 6G networks are able to anticipate threats and counter them, and quantum technologies offer unbreakable physical-layer encryption. Proposed work examines the security, architectural requirements, and implementation practicalities of this integration. In addition, we discussed the potential effect of quantum computing on present cryptographic techniques and describe future research directions for deployment at scale of quantum-secure communication in next-generation wireless systems.
The rise of 6G communication networks, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), promises a new era of connectivity with ultra-fast data speeds, intelligent applications, and seamless integration across a wide range of devices. However, the immense volume of sensitive data handled by these ultra-dense networks brings heightened concerns about privacy and security. Quantum cryptography, which leverages the principles of quantum mechanics, offers groundbreaking potential for securing communications; yet, the advent of quantum computing poses significant threats to traditional cryptographic systems. This challenge underscores the need for quantum-resilient cryptographic solutions. This review delves into the intersection of quantum-resilient cryptographic techniques and AI-driven 6G communication networks. It provides a detailed examination of existing quantum-resistant algorithms, evaluates their suitability in AI-enabled 6G systems, and highlights critical challenges and potential future directions. By addressing the pressing demand for secure and resilient communication frameworks, this study contributes to the development of 6G systems that can withstand the security threats posed by the quantum computing era.
Cryptography is a key enabling tool in digital security that is needed to protect information, secure communication, and ensure the integrity between connected networks. As cybersecurity threats continue to emerge constantly and, as evidenced by APTs, ransomware, and, later, quantum cyber threats, the need for stronger, more modern generations of cryptographic methods is more urgent than ever. Therefore, this paper seeks to discuss the emerging trends in the most recent cryptographic advancements including post quantum cryptography, homomorphic cryptography and security paradigms leveraging on blockchain system. These techniques are equally effective in correcting significant limitations of existing systems and in improving their overall efficiency and rates. The coursework points out the inherent weaknesses of traditional cryptographic solutions, such as the exposure to quantum computing threat models and their ability to address current and future security needs. Through a brief discussion of the theoretical background and practical implementations, this paper aims to assess the efficiency of the latest cryptographic technologies in strengthening network security measures. Research insights show that using third-generation cryptographic approaches is far more effective in protecting information from new risks. Besides, applying these methods in essential industries, including finance, healthcare, and IoT, supports the practical utilization of these methods. Based on the findings of this research, these innovations should be adopted to secure digital structure in a growing complex environment.