The race to harness the power of quantum computing is heating up—and IBM is taking bold steps to be a leader in the emerging space. In a recent interview featured in USA Today's "The Excerpt", Dr. Darío Gil (IBM's SVP and Dir. of Research) shed light on how quantum computing is transitioning from a theoretical curiosity to an industrial-scale utility. With IBM's roadmap pushing toward large-scale processors like Condor (1,121 qubits) and Flamingo (over 1,000 qubits), the future feels closer than ever. But as this technology evolves, so do the challenges.

IBM’s roadmap doesn’t stop at 1,000-qubit chips. Their goal is to develop modular quantum systems that link multiple processors into one “quantum-centric supercomputer,” enabling thousands of logical, error-corrected qubits. This modular design is critical for solving real-world problems, and it represents a leap beyond monolithic chip design.

Likewise, as quantum computers scale, IBM and others are exploring quantum networks — systems that connect quantum machines via entanglement. These networks may eventually form the foundation of a quantum internet. As that future approaches, the security implications grow exponentially, and Hyperspace’s role in securing traditional infrastructure becomes even more vital.

While companies like IBM are focused on building usable quantum computers, the looming risk they pose to today's digital infrastructure can't be ignored. That's where Hyperspace, WhiteStar Communications’ new quantum-resistant VPN (QVPN for short), enters the picture – but more on that later. For now, let’s talk about the state of quantum computing.

Quantum computing promises transformational benefits across a huge number of industries – everything from financial modeling, logistics optimization, drug discovery, and materials science (and many, many others) are all poised to benefit from this computational leap. However, even as the field matures, it's still grappling with quite a few foundational hurdles. One of the most significant challenges is error correction; quantum computers are inherently prone to errors due to the fragile nature of quantum bits, or qubits. To say they’re notoriously finicky would be an understatement. Developing reliable error correction methods is essential for building practical quantum systems capable of running sustained and useful computations – and an obstacle that the industry has yet to reliably overcome. Another critical obstacle is scalability. While experimental machines with hundreds or even a few thousand qubits exist, transitioning to systems with 100,000 or more error-corrected qubits is a long-term goal. This leap will require advances in engineering, materials science, and systems architecture. Meanwhile, the quantum computing ecosystem is rapidly expanding. IBM is at the forefront of this movement by providing cloud-based access to its quantum systems through its Quantum Network. This initiative brings together universities, startups, and corporations to collaborate and accelerate the development of quantum applications. Yet one topic looms large in the background: security. Quantum computers will eventually be powerful enough to break the public-key cryptography that secures everything from banking transactions to corporate communications. This threat isn't theoretical—bad actors are already engaging in "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, collecting encrypted data now in hopes of breaking it once quantum decryption becomes viable.

Hyperspace isn't just another VPN. It's a next-generation secure communication layer engineered for the realities of quantum disruption. While most VPNs still rely on cryptographic methods vulnerable to quantum attacks, like RSA and ECC, Hyperspace takes a different approach. At its core, while Hyperspace can employ Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), it’s true strength is architectural. PQC are encryption algorithms specifically designed to resist attacks from both classical and quantum computers, and Hyperspace is fully compatible with them, and can be deployed with both traditional RSA/ECC cryptography or PQC when it’s necessary. By adopting these advanced cryptographic standards, Hyperspace ensures that even if quantum computers become capable of breaking today's encryption, data secured with PQC remains protected. However, as mentioned previously, it’s the architecture of Hyperspace that’s the true boon to anyone looking to avoid problems with Quantum Computing. Because of the patented way Hyperspace employs a hybrid peer-to-peer overlay to connect devices together with individualized private keys, with ratcheting key rolls on each packet, and built-in intelligent routing to avoid potentially compromised network nodes. Hyperspace’s peer-to-peer encrypted network is a huge benefit to protecting it from quantum attacks. As previously mentioned, each connection is secured individually, without relying on a centralized trust model. One of the biggest issues with centralized trust based on certificates is concentrates the reward garnered by attacking the network in a single place; if an attacker can compromise one device, they can compromise many. That’s a problem that Hyperspace fixes. Additionally, unlike traditional VPNs that cannot protect internal devices from attack via a compromised device, Hyperspace’s inherent network segmentation and lack of centralized trust model means it’s implicitly secure against potential internal threats and a compromised certificate model that could be exploited. Hyperspace embraces a zero-trust architecture; in this model, no device is automatically trusted simply because it exists within the network perimeter. As mentioned, because of the individualized encryption, each device effectively operates as its own secure enclave, significantly limiting the ability for attackers to move laterally within a compromised network. This makes Hyperspace an essential complement to the rise of quantum computing. As companies like IBM push forward with hardware innovation, solutions like Hyperspace ensure that our digital infrastructure remains secure against the new risks this revolution brings.

IBM and Hyperspace are addressing different but deeply interconnected challenges. IBM is enabling quantum breakthroughs by scaling up hardware and building open, collaborative ecosystems. Hyperspace is building the defensive infrastructure necessary to protect existing and future data in this new paradigm. It’s extremely important that as quantum computing advances to be increasingly powerful, stable and capable – and likewise more available – that the infrastructure to adequately secure networks and endpoints against the unique attack vectors that quantum computing enables develop in parallel. Both efforts are vital. One builds the future. The other secures it. As we move deeper into the quantum age, technologies like Hyperspace won't be optional. They'll be foundational. Visit hyperspacenetwork.io to learn how Hyperspace can prepare you for the advent of quantum computing.