AT&T is preparing for the quantum future

While practical quantum computers are still years away, they could eventually break many of today's encryption methods that protect everything from online banking to company networks.

That's why Palo Alto Networks and AT&T Business have introduced new secure connectivity solutions designed to prepare businesses for the quantum era. Their goal is to help companies protect sensitive data today from attacks that could happen years from now.

One of the biggest concerns is that bad actors can steal encrypted data today and simply store it. They may not be able to read it now, but once powerful quantum computers become available, they could potentially decrypt that information.

To help protect businesses, Palo Alto Networks has added post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to its networking platform. PQC is a new type of encryption that is designed to stay secure even when powerful quantum computers become available.

The company also uses TLS 1.3, the latest version of a widely used internet security standard, to protect data as it moves between network devices. This helps stop attackers from intercepting communications or pretending to be trusted systems.

For the data itself, Palo Alto uses what's known as hybrid encryption. Instead of relying only on traditional encryption, the system combines today's widely used algorithms with new quantum-resistant ones. This means businesses stay compatible with existing systems while also preparing for future quantum threats, without slowing down their networks.

Another important feature is crypto-agility. Rather than replacing networking hardware every time encryption standards change, companies can receive software updates that introduce new cryptographic algorithms as they become available.

Built-in security

AT&T says quantum-safe networking has become increasingly important because many of its customers operate in highly regulated industries such as healthcare, finance and government. For these organizations, security needs to be built directly into the network rather than added afterward.

The companies say their joint platform provides the same level of protection whether traffic travels over fiber, 5G, private business networks or the public internet. New offices can also be connected automatically with the same security policies, reducing manual setup and helping companies protect new locations from day one.

The system is also designed to help businesses meet upcoming cybersecurity regulations, including Europe's NIS2 and DORA rules and US government security guidelines that increasingly emphasize quantum readiness.

Service Provider Interconnect

Another advantage comes from integrating Palo Alto's security platform directly with AT&T's private network through what is called a Service Provider Interconnect (SPI). Instead of sending traffic through multiple encrypted tunnels across the public internet, businesses can connect directly to AT&T's network, reducing delays while maintaining strong encryption.

The companies also highlight that the platform is built for today's increasingly distributed workforce. As more employees work remotely and businesses rely on branch offices, stores and warehouses, the traditional corporate headquarters is no longer the center of the network. Every connected office or mobile device becomes another point that must be secured.

To protect those locations, the system uses a hybrid public key infrastructure (PKI) that gives each device both a traditional digital identity and a quantum-resistant one.