Centralized Key Distribution Using Quantum Cryptography

The current data protection mechanism that typically comprises of cryptographic systems relies on the computational hardness as a means to protect sensitive data. With the recent advancements in quantum computing, quantum computers pose a serious challenge to such cryptographic systems. Interest in quantum cryptography has been stimulated by the fact that quantum algorithms like Shor’s algorithm for integer factorization and discreet logarithms threatens the security of classical cryptosystems. Quantum Cryptography or Quantum Key distribution provides ultimate security assurance over a optical fiber communication link by resisting interception and retransmission by an eavesdropper between two communicating parties. Based on the foundations of quantum mechanics, the goal of quantum cryptography is to thwart attempts by third party to gain knowledge of the key. The third party trying to eavesdrop on the keys must in some way measure it and thus introducing detectable anomalies. This paper focuses on quantum cryptography and how this technology can be used for secure key distribution in both centralized and decentralized network, along with its limitations. Keywords— Quantum key distribution, decentralized network, centralized network, cryptography, symmetric encryption