With the fast progress in quantum computing technologies, it is increasingly expected that future quantum computing machines will be able to decrypt the cypher in an extremely short time frame - a few seconds or minutes - and thus classical encryption algorithms will not be secure anymore. This possibility means that there is a need for new and more secure cryptographic systems. One main problem in the area of key security, is the transport of the required encryption key from one party to another via an insecure transport medium. This TransportKey is currently very often based on the asymmetrical RSA-procedure. RSA-keys have never been totally secure, but they are reasonably secure, considering the currently available compute power. The availability of quantum computers has the potential to undermine these RSA-based security assurances.
Quantum keys should change this situation. Quantum keys could adopt the role of secure TransportKeys: quantum keys move the security issue from the mathematical area to the physical area. Even complex mathematics could finally be cracked by powerful computer systems, like quantum computers. In contrast, the laws of quantum physics - at least at the current state of knowledge - cannot be overcome, and thus provide the highest level of security assurance, even against potential attacks by other quantum computers.