A Critical Analysis of Deployed Use Cases for Quantum Key Distribution and Comparison with Post-Quantum Cryptography

Nick Aquina; Bruno Cimoli; Soumya Das; Kathrin Hövelmanns; Fiona Johanna Weber; Chigo Okonkwo; Simon Rommel; Boris Škorić; Idelfonso Tafur Monroy; Sebastian Verschoor

A Critical Analysis of Deployed Use Cases for Quantum Key Distribution and Comparison with Post-Quantum Cryptography

Nick Aquina, Bruno Cimoli, Soumya Das, Kathrin Hövelmanns, Fiona Johanna Weber, Chigo Okonkwo, Simon Rommel, Boris Škorić, Idelfonso Tafur Monroy, Sebastian Verschoor

Research output: Working paper › Preprint › Professional

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Abstract

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is currently being discussed as a technology to safeguard communication in a future where quantum computers compromise traditional public-key cryptosystems. In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive security evaluation of QKD-based solutions, focusing on real-world use cases sourced from academic literature and industry reports. We analyze these use cases, assess their security and identify the possible advantages of deploying QKD-based solutions. We further compare QKD-based solutions with Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), the alternative approach to achieving security when quantum computers compromise traditional public-key cryptosystems, evaluating their respective suitability for each scenario. Based on this comparative analysis, we critically discuss and comment on which use cases QKD is suited for, considering factors such as implementation complexity, scalability, and long-term security. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the role QKD could play in future cryptographic infrastructures and offer guidance to decision-makers considering the deployment of QKD.

Original language	English
Number of pages	37
Publication status	Published - 6 Feb 2025

Funding

This work was in part funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) as part of the Quantum Delta NL National Growthfunds on Quantum Technology and by the NWO NWA project FIQCS (NWA.1436.20.005).

Funders	Funder number
NWO	NWA.1436.20.005
Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat

Keywords

Quantum Key Distribution
Quantum communications
Quantum cryptography
Quantum Network
Use-cases
Post-Quantum Cryptography
Harvest-Now-Decrypt-Later attack

Access to Document

pdfFinal published version, 1.48 MBLicence: CC BY-SA

https://eprint.iacr.org/2025/173Licence: CC BY-SA
https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.04009Licence: CC BY-SA

FIQCS: FIeldlab Quantum Cryptography Solutions for Safe Society
Wiegmann, P. M. (Project communication officer), Okonkwo, C. M. (Project Manager), Tafur Monroy, I. (Project member), Sluijsmans, M. (Project member), Patterson, D. (Project member) & Aquina, N. (Project member)
1/05/23 → 1/05/28
Project: Second tier
KAT-2 Startimpuls: Het ontwikkelen van nationale quantum communicatienetwerken op basis van Quantum Key Distribution en meer complexe quantum communicatie technologieën
Tafur Monroy, I. (Project Manager), Patterson, D. (Project member), Temel, M. H. (Project member) & Liu, H. (Project member)
1/07/20 → 30/06/25
Project: Third tier

Cite this

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title = "A Critical Analysis of Deployed Use Cases for Quantum Key Distribution and Comparison with Post-Quantum Cryptography",

abstract = "Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is currently being discussed as a technology to safeguard communication in a future where quantum computers compromise traditional public-key cryptosystems. In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive security evaluation of QKD-based solutions, focusing on real-world use cases sourced from academic literature and industry reports. We analyze these use cases, assess their security and identify the possible advantages of deploying QKD-based solutions. We further compare QKD-based solutions with Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), the alternative approach to achieving security when quantum computers compromise traditional public-key cryptosystems, evaluating their respective suitability for each scenario. Based on this comparative analysis, we critically discuss and comment on which use cases QKD is suited for, considering factors such as implementation complexity, scalability, and long-term security. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the role QKD could play in future cryptographic infrastructures and offer guidance to decision-makers considering the deployment of QKD. ",

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AU - Weber, Fiona Johanna

AU - Okonkwo, Chigo

AU - Rommel, Simon

AU - Škorić, Boris

AU - Monroy, Idelfonso Tafur

AU - Verschoor, Sebastian

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A Critical Analysis of Deployed Use Cases for Quantum Key Distribution and Comparison with Post-Quantum Cryptography

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

FIQCS: FIeldlab Quantum Cryptography Solutions for Safe Society

KAT-2 Startimpuls: Het ontwikkelen van nationale quantum communicatienetwerken op basis van Quantum Key Distribution en meer complexe quantum communicatie technologieën

Cite this