The University of Edinburgh’s Quantum Software Lab will receive £6.2 million from Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund to develop tools assessing quantum cybersecurity threats to the UK energy system. Building on a successful initial phase led by the National Energy System Operator (NESO), the project will create two operational tools to help energy networks prepare for the potential of quantum computing. Researchers are developing the open-source software solution “Quantum Threat Tracker” designed to estimate when specific energy systems may become vulnerable to quantum attacks, alongside the “Quantum-Aware Risk Management” tool for transitioning to quantum-safe technologies. “One of the most important unanswered questions in cybersecurity is when quantum computers will become capable of breaking the cryptographic systems used today,” says Petros Wallden, Deputy Director for Research at QSL, emphasizing the critical need for accurate timing to avoid unnecessary costs or critical infrastructure exposure.
Quantum Threat Tracker and Risk Management Tools for Energy Networks
The UK’s energy infrastructure faces a potential threat, and researchers are actively developing tools to quantify and mitigate the risks posed by future quantum computers. This work is funded by a £6.2 million energy award. Researchers are developing an open-source software solution called “Quantum Threat Tracker” designed to estimate when specific energy systems may become vulnerable to quantum attacks. This tool, the Quantum Threat Tracker, will be invaluable for energy network organizations preparing for a post-quantum cybersecurity environment, providing a crucial timeline for vulnerability assessment.
Complementing the Tracker is the “Quantum-Aware Risk Management” tool, an enterprise-level solution intended to support decision-making as companies transition to quantum-safe technologies; together, these tools will allow organizations to prioritize mitigation measures across a broad range of energy assets. The project consortium includes NESO, Cambridge Consultants, Quantum Software Lab, Scottish Power Energy Networks, and National Gas, combining academic expertise with practical industry knowledge. Professor Chris Dent of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Mathematics adds, “For energy network operators, getting that timing right is critical: migrating to quantum-safe technologies too early could incur unnecessary costs, while acting too late could expose essential infrastructure to significant risks.” He continues, “In addition to the importance to the energy system of maintaining cyber security in the post-quantum world, our work on the consequences of uncertainty in technology projections is an exciting technical challenge, which we are confident we can address alongside our colleagues in the other project partners.”
The increasing threat of quantum computers breaking current encryption standards is driving a proactive shift toward post-quantum cybersecurity, and a new £6.2 million energy award is supporting the development of tools to address this challenge. Researchers are developing an open-source software solution called “Quantum Threat Tracker” designed to estimate when specific energy systems may become vulnerable to quantum attacks, recognizing that premature or delayed adoption of quantum-safe technologies carries significant economic and security risks. Researchers anticipate this tool will be invaluable for energy network organizations preparing for a post-quantum cybersecurity environment, providing a crucial timeline for vulnerability assessment. Complementing the Quantum Threat Tracker is the “Quantum-Aware Risk Management” tool, which provides decision support for planning the transition to quantum-safe technologies. This tool will move beyond simple predictions, incorporating uncertainty quantification to provide a probabilistic assessment of risk, acknowledging the difficulty in forecasting technological breakthroughs. The project also encompasses the development of an enterprise-level tool intended to support strategic decision-making regarding the implementation of quantum-safe technologies.
One of the most important unanswered questions in cybersecurity is when quantum computers will become capable of breaking the cryptographic systems used today.
Petros Wallden, Deputy Director for Research, QSL
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