Potential security boost from quantum computing

Research has found that a new type of technology called 'quantum computing' could help boost the security of cloud computing, according to Computeach.co.uk.

Undertaken by scientists based at the University of Vienna, the research stemmed from the basic theories of quantum physics. Stefanie Barz, who is authoring the research, explained: "Quantum physics solves one of the key challenges in distributed computing.

"It can preserve data privacy when users interact with remote computing centres," Barz added. The idea is that any computations of data hosted in the cloud will be undertaken without the computers associated with the cloud knowing what they were.

This could well calm any fears of businesses regarding the security of the cloud, particularly as the research team has boasted the technology could create "perfectly secure" cloud computing.

A statement from the entire research team explained further the process taken to make this discovery. Cited by TechweekEurope.co.uk, it said: "The experimental demonstration uses photons, or 'light particles' to encode the data.

"Photonic systems are well-suited to the task because quantum computation operations can be performed on them and they can be transmitted over long distances," the team concluded.

Although the technology is nowhere near being developed enough to work in the real world, it certainly seems to be a step forward to increased security for this emerging platform.

Deborah Bates