The Convergence of Quantum Computing and Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly shaping both the consumer and industrial sector, according to a report, by 2023, government, companies, and consumers will install around 40 billion IoT devices internationally. Every business and consumer domain accepts new-age technology for the smooth functioning of their applications. From retail to healthcare, logistics to finances, even education have faced long-term failure due to avoiding updated technology that their rivals have used first. So, companies who don’t innovate lag behind for more reasons than one.

More importantly, the pandemic year’s challenges again confirmed the requirement of securing all four components of the IoT model, those are:

• Sensors
• Networks (Communications)
• Analytics (Cloud) and
• Applications

Quantum computing is one of the most eligible systems for securing the entire application because it has the potential to process more data compared to classical computers which ensure more precision. However, the idea of converging quantum computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) is not new, many works of literature and researches have discussed this, but still, quantum computing is not even close to deployment on a commercial scale.

Understanding the complexity of such convergence requires recognizing security issues of the Internet of Things (IoT) and comprehending the complicated nature of Quantum Computing.

Major Security Issues of IoT System

Some of the major security issues of the IoT system includes:

• Data violation – IoT applications collect a huge amount of data from the users, most of which are sensitive to personal. Encryption protection is required to protect against the leakage of those data.
• Data authentication – Instead of having adequate information, some data can still be opened by hackers in case the authenticity of the credentials that communicated from the devices are not authenticated by the system. Poor passwords, not changing previous passwords, etc. can impose a serious threat to data security.
• Uneven updates –In order to cope up with the latest technology the system must be updated regularly, the security compromises from different directions if the software does not get updated frequently.
• Side-channel attacks - Some vulnerabilities in the system’s implementations can cause a serious threat to the data and information than the implementation’s algorithms.
• Ransomware and malware – Malwares are the malicious program’s multitude that infects a device and alter its functioning. On the other hand, ransomware refers to the capabilities of locking a user out of their device.

What are the differences between Conventional and Quantum Computing?

We are currently in the 4^th generation of computers and soon will step into the 5^th generation. We have experienced a plethora of technical changes generation by generation that includes microprocessor after vacuum tubes, transistors, and integrated circuits, which are based on conventional computing that works on the classical phenomenon of electrical circuits – being in a single state at a given time.

Here are some of the differences between Classical Computing and Quantum Computing:

Other than the above-mentioned basic differences there ate hundreds of other differences between Classical and Quantum Computing.

As the number of wire increases storing complex information becomes easier

Quantum Computing and Internet of Things (IoT)

Quantum computing is the element that can help to address the challenges and issues that are blocking IoT’s path of growth. Some of the worth mentioning possibilities are:

Optimized complex computation power

The speed of the operating system can be increased incredibly with Quantum computing since IoT devices generate a lot amount of data that require heavy computation and a series of optimization, so IoT systems will be beneficial from the operational point of view.

Faster validation process

Quantum computing can speed up the process of validation across the entire system much faster while ensuring constant optimization of the systems.

More secure communications

Through quantum cryptography can ensure more secure communication. The complexity acts as a defense against cyber hacks that include data breaches, authentication, malware, and ransomware.

The Future Opportunities

Quantum computing is in its developmental phase, tech giants like IBM. Google, Microsoft, etc. contributing huge resources to come up with powerful quantum computers. They are able to build multiple machines containing lots of qubits, but the challenge is to operate these qubits smoothly with zero to minimum error. The quantum computing system is extremely promising, continuously opening new possibilities to harness security issues, it reaches versatile practical applications for not only for businesses but also for consumers.

IoT is expanding rapidly to fulfill all our technological demands every day. Moreover, to cope up with new normal situations be it Work From Home (WFH), ordering food from renowned restaurants, it accelerated the deployment of various devices. The convergence of Quantum Computing with IoT under “Quantum IoT” or QIoT pushing a lot of boundaries will become much easier. Products with such technologies will add “Quantum” or “Q” to their products. According to the prediction, more adoption of Quantum hardware and software applications like QSaaS, QlaaS, and QPaaS as parts of the Quantum and QAI (Quantum Artificial Intelligence) will be introduced in the market.