CGI Federal Executives Detail Federal Quantum Priorities

• CGI Federal executives identified three key quantum technology workstreams
• The workstreams cover post-quantum cryptography, quantum computing and quantum sensing
• PQC addresses risks posed by future quantum attacks on encrypted data

Victor Foulk, vice president of emerging technologies at CGI Federal, and Josh Sonnier, director of analytics and intelligence within the company’s emerging technologies practice, outlined three areas federal agencies should address as quantum technology moves toward commercialization.

What Are the Three Quantum Workstreams?

In a blog post published Monday, Foulk and Sonnier said the federal government’s quantum agenda encompasses three distinct areas: post-quantum cryptography, quantum computing and quantum sensing. While the technologies are related, they present different timelines, risks and potential uses for agencies.

Post-quantum cryptography, or PQC, addresses the security threat posed by future quantum computers. It uses classical cryptographic methods designed to withstand quantum attacks. Foulk and Sonnier said the issue is already relevant because adversaries can collect encrypted information today with the expectation of decrypting it later.