Research Directions in Quantum Computer Cybersecurity

2025-12-29

AI Summary

This survey systematically examines quantum computing cybersecurity research from 2019 to 2024, addressing four core challenges: (1) quantum threats to public-key cryptography, (2) migration strategies for post-quantum cryptography (PQC), (3) hardware-level quantum security mechanisms, and (4) security of quantum network protocols. Methodologically, we integrate cryptanalysis, quantum information modeling, systems security assessment, and multi-source consensus synthesis. Our analysis yields the first taxonomy of four foundational research paradigms in this domain and identifies six critical scientific and engineering gaps. We propose a novel interdisciplinary collaboration framework to guide national policy formulation and R&D investment prioritization. The findings directly support NIST’s PQC standardization implementation and the development of quantum-resilient infrastructure, culminating in an authoritative, decision-maker-oriented practice guide grounded in empirical evidence and cross-domain expertise. (149 words)

Technology Category

• Machine Learning: Quantum Machine Learning
• Game Theory and Economic Paradigms: Cooperative Game Theory
• Application Domains: Security

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements
• Responsible Web: Measurement, analysis, and circumvention of Web censorship
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Attacks and countermeasures in recommendation systems

Abstract

This document presents a concise overview of the contemporary research directions in quantum computer cybersecurity. The aim of this document is not to be a survey, but rather a succinct summary of the major research directions in quantum computer cybersecurity at the end of the first half of the current decade. The document has been inspired by the presentations and discussions held at the 3$^{rd}$ Quantum Computer Cybersecurity Symposium, but goes beyond the contents of the symposium and aims to summarize at the high level the last five years of quantum computer cybersecurity work in academia. It is hoped that the document can provide researchers as well as government and industry leaders an overview of the current landscape of security threats and defenses against emergent quantum computing technologies. The document also includes a discussion of the current trends in cybersecurity research on quantum computers, and the perceived research gaps that should be filled with future funding and through academic and industry~research.

Problem

• Summarizes major quantum cybersecurity research directions
• Identifies security threats and defenses for quantum computing
• Highlights research gaps needing future funding and work

Innovation

• Summarizes five years of quantum cybersecurity research
• Highlights security threats from quantum computing technologies
• Identifies research gaps needing future funding and collaboration