RZD, PSB and Federal Treasury Test Quantum Encryption for Financial Data
The secure connection links the Federal Treasury's and PSB's data centers through RZD's backbone quantum network.
The equipment has been installed, and setup and commissioning are complete. Specialists have confirmed that the communication channels are operating normally. For the first time, a quantum-secured channel has connected a government agency with a commercial bank.
The pilot does not yet signal a large-scale rollout. Its performance still needs to be assessed in a live financial infrastructure environment. The project involves RZD, the Federal Treasury, PSB and the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. The technology uses quantum key distribution (QKD). The system automatically generates and delivers encryption keys, while dedicated hardware encrypts data traffic at speeds of up to 10 Gbps over distances exceeding 1,200 kilometers. This approach reduces the risk of keys being intercepted and confidential information subsequently decrypted.
A dedicated RZD center monitors the network around the clock and provides centralized infrastructure management. The project partners eventually hope to extend quantum protection to other strategically important parts of the financial system. The technology is becoming increasingly important as quantum computing advances, potentially threatening some of today's encryption methods in the future.
