Network Security in a Quantum Future innovation project wins Alpha phase funding.

The innovation project Network Security in a Quantum Future has been awarded funding to progress to Alpha phase development, building on the recently completed and successful delivery of the Discovery phase in May 2024.

The Network Security in a Quantum Future project will create an innovative risk management tool to assess the quantum threat to the energy network, mapping it to a diverse range of energy assets, and enabling prioritisation of mitigations.

As part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure, the energy system must be secure against malicious cyberattacks. Quantum computing offers many benefits to the energy system, but the nature of these emerging technologies could enable attackers to break encryption that is currently highly secure and potentially open new attack vectors.

To ensure resilience and the energy sector and reliably provide energy to customers, energy networks must consider the quantum threat in their cybersecurity strategies.

The complexity of quantum computing technology means that deciding what needs to be done, and when, can be challenging. The energy sector’s response to cyberthreats must be appropriate and proportionate. Understanding quantum impact requires specialist knowledge, which is what the Network Security in a Quantum Future risk management tool aims to address.

NESO is looking forward to working with Cambridge Consultants and the University of Edinburgh to deliver the Alpha phase of the project.

This project is funded through the Strategic Innovation Fund, an Ofgem programme managed in partnership with Innovate UK.