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Quantum Frontiers Journal

Secure Distributed Systems Using Quantum Communication Channels

Clara Bianchi

Published Jul 4, 2025• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Distributed systems -- spanning cloud computing, edge networks, and federated databases -- rely on classical cryptographic channels whose security rests on computational hardness assumptions increasingly threatened by advances in quantum computing. Quantum communication channels, exploiting photon entanglement and the no-cloning theorem, offer information-theoretically secure alternatives that can harden distributed architectures against both classical and quantum adversaries. This paper proposes the Quantum-Secured Distributed Architecture (QSDA) framework, which integrates quantum communication channels -- specifically Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), quantum secret sharing (QSS), and quantum Byzantine agreement (QBA) -- into five canonical distributed system primitives: authenticated broadcast, distributed consensus, secret sharing, leader election, and distributed locking. QSDA is evaluated through protocol simulation across 8, 16, and 32-node distributed systems under four threat models: passive eavesdropper, active man-in-the-middle, Byzantine faulty nodes (up to f = n/3), and quantum adversary. Results demonstrate that QSDA achieves information-theoretic security for authenticated broadcast and secret sharing, reduces Byzantine consensus round complexity from O(n2) to O(n log n) using quantum channels, and maintains system throughput within 18.4% of classical baseline despite quantum channel overhead. The study contributes the QSDA specification, a Quantum-Distributed Security Index (QDSI), and a protocol integration reference for quantum-secured distributed system design.

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The existence of quantum computing presents an existential threat to the traditional cryptographic algorithms, and there is a need to create communication mechanisms that are fundamentally secure. In this regard, the concept of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) provides information-theoretic security, which is founded on quantum mechanics. Nevertheless, conventional QKD protocols have serious shortcomings such as lack of distance in communication, vulnerability to side-channel attacks, and inability to support the large-scale heterogeneous network. We suggest that HQNet-QKD a Hybrid Quantum Key Distribution framework can help solve these issues by offering a more secure, scalable and future-proof key exchange framework in hybrid classical-quantum networks. To support multi-layered security, the proposed architecture is a network ensuring the smoothness of decoy-state BB84, Measurement-Device-Independent QKD (MDI-QKD), entanglement/twin-field-based QKD with verifiable Secret Sharing (VSS) and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). It provides a complete methodology such as system architecture, mathematical modeling, and end-to-end key synthesis. When used over a distance of 300 km, simulation and testing have shown that HQNet-QKD can achieve up to2.7×2.7 \times2.7×higher secret key rate (SKR) than conventional methods, secret communication at 700 km and resilience to both quantum and classical attacks more than 96%. In addition, the framework guarantees forward secrecy, detector-side immunity, contextbound key derivation, and composability and thus resistant to current and future adversaries. It has a low-computational overhead modular design, making it trivial to deploy in a real world, in applications like quantum-secured 5G backbones, cloud data centers, critical infrastructure, and satellite-based communication systems. The findings make HQNet-QKD a new generation solution to quantum-safe secure communication and the first step towards the implementation of the quantum internet.
Current quantum communication protocols rely heavily on classical authentication for message origin verification, leaving them vulnerable to evolving attacks that exploit classical trust assumptions. In this work, we propose a novel framework for secure quantum relay networks that completely avoids classical authentication. Instead, we leverage pre-distributed entanglement graphs and non-classical correlation-assisted decoding to enable exclusive message retrieval by designated nodes without broadcasting any key or handshake. The system routes messages across multiple relay nodes, yet ensures that no intermediate node can access the message unless it possesses the entangled state partner. We demonstrate that even in multi-path scenarios with asynchronous entanglement distribution, the protocol guarantees quantum-forward secrecy and end-to-end origin integrity without trusted intermediaries. Simulation results confirm both functionality and robustness under entanglement loss and imperfect detection. This architecture paves the way for scalable quantum communication systems where physical quantum states replace classical authentication mechanisms entirely.
This paper proposes a novel approach to secure key distribution for distributed databases utilizing quantum entanglement. Traditional key distribution methods, such as those based on one-time pads or Diffie-Hellman, are susceptible to eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. Our method leverages the inherent properties of quantum entanglement to create a shared secret key between database nodes without relying on classical cryptographic assumptions. We demonstrate that this entanglement-based key distribution protocol offers a fundamentally more secure solution, providing theoretical unbreakability. The core of the protocol relies on the creation and distribution of entangled photon pairs, followed by Bell state measurement and post-processing steps to establish a shared key. This approach addresses the critical security vulnerabilities inherent in existing distributed database security protocols. The theoretical framework and mathematical analysis presented here provide a strong foundation for future research and development in quantum-secured distributed databases.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) provides information-theoretic security guaranteed by the laws of physics rather than computational hardness -- making it the primary tool for quantum-secure communication against harvest-now-decrypt-later quantum threats. This paper proposes the Quantum Cryptographic Protocol Design and Analysis (QCPDA) framework, evaluating six quantum cryptographic protocols -- BB84, E91, MDI-QKD, Twin-Field QKD (TF-QKD), Quantum Digital Signatures (QDS), and Quantum Secret Sharing (QSS) -- across five dimensions: unconditional security, key generation rate, maximum secure distance, noise tolerance, and implementation complexity. TF-QKD achieves the longest secure distance (605 km on ultra-low-loss fibre) but lowest key rate. MDI-QKD eliminates all detector side-channels at moderate key rates. BB84 achieves the highest composite QCPDA score (8.24) due to commercial maturity. QCPDA provides a protocol selection guide mapping deployment scenarios (metropolitan, intercity, long-haul, multi-party) to optimal protocols, and discusses the complementary roles of QKD and NIST post-quantum cryptography standards for quantum-secure infrastructure.
This paper presents a novel approach to distributed consensus protocols leveraging quantum entanglement and Byzantine fault tolerance. The core claim is that quantum entanglement can provide secure and efficient agreement among nodes even in the presence of malicious actors. We propose a mechanism that utilizes quantum key distribution (QKD) to establish shared entanglement between participating nodes. Subsequent quantum measurements identify faulty nodes, informing a robust consensus algorithm built upon majority voting and entanglement-based error correction. The potential advantages of this combined approach – enhanced security and efficiency compared to traditional classical methods – are explored. The research addresses the critical challenge of achieving reliable consensus in distributed systems susceptible to Byzantine attacks. This work introduces a new paradigm for consensus, potentially leading to more resilient and secure distributed applications.
A novel approach to secure data transmission, quantum communication draws on fundamental principles of quantum physics. It ensures that the transmitted information is private and accurate. To provide security, quantum networks implement physical constraints such as the no-cloning rule and quantum entanglement. In contrast, computational complexity is employed by classical networks. However, with the proliferation of multiuser quantum networks, identity verification has become more challenging. People with malicious intentions might easily disrupt services in long-distance quantum networks by impersonating legitimate nodes and sharing entangled resources and quantum channels. This highlights the absolute necessity of secure authentication systems tailored to quantum environments. Enhancements to recent quantum authentication systems have been made utilizing techniques that are resistant to quantum computing. Researchers are looking into quantum digital signatures, entanglement-assisted protocols, and quantum key distribution (QKD) authentication to make multi-party communications more secure. In order to prevent attacks where a user establishes a fraudulent identity or account, these strategies can be applied to quantum networks. This study takes a look at current quantum authentication systems and gives them the once-over, focusing on how well they could handle multiple users. The article delves into the evolution of authentication systems to accommodate the distributed model, where nodes can function as senders, receivers, or relays. We aim to strike a compromise between practicality and security in our lightweight, low-latency protocols. Additionally, the paper discusses quantum-specific issues, such as side-channel attacks and device malfunctions, and how authentication techniques can help prevent them. Finally, this study demonstrates that authentication is the critical component of secure quantum communication for multiple users. The most secure quantum key distribution methods are still vulnerable to attacks from inside or outside the system if proper authentication is not in place.