Position Paper on Quantum Key Distribution

ANSSI, together with its partners the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the Netherlands National Communications Security Agency (NLNCSA), and the Swedish National Communications Security Authority of the Swedish Armed Forces—has published a technical overview of quantum key distribution (QKD).

This publication targets a broad audience and aims to help decision-makers and policymakers assess the potential benefits and limitations of QKD. While QKD requires a dedicated communications infrastructure, it currently has significant functional limitations and is only suitable for niche use cases. Moreover, its security maturity is not yet sufficient.

To enable organizations to transition to a quantum-resistant environment, priority should be given to deploying a technology that is much more compatible with existing cryptographic systems than QKD: post-quantum cryptography (PQC).