Ep. 247 Thales Powers Federal Data Security Against Quantum-Era Threats

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Years ago, the headline “Data Breach” was shocking; today, it is common. That may not be a problem for some, but the federal government maintains data stores that contain information about finances, health, and military matters.

A recent report has shown that 50% of federal agencies have reported data breaches. It appears that it's time to find a solution.

Today, we sat down with Blain Canavan from Thales Group to examine the usual suspects and the potential threats ahead.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS:  

MFA:  Protecting data can be accomplished with something as basic as phishing-resistant Multi-Factor Authentication. The first step in identity management can significantly reduce threats.

Encryption: Deploying encryption can protect data at rest, in transit, and memory.

Keys to the Kingdom: Little-known methods of managing the PKI system can help reduce risk in protecting data.

THEAT DOWN THE ROAD: QUANTUM

Now that you have checked the boxes for basic data protection, it is time to get a grasp on what lies ahead. We have read about quantum cryptography for twenty years. Today, we have pre-standardized quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms available.

One needs to take action a little sooner. During the interview, Blair Canavan highlights the proactive measures taken by the US federal government, including the implementation of PQC-safe digital signatures by 2025.

The “down the road” also has a delimitation -- Blair emphasizes the urgency of replacing outdated cryptographic methods, such as RSA and ECC, by 2030 and 2035, respectively.

Include the 2024 data threat report.

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