Palo Alto Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: PANW) and AT&T Business have introduced a new secure networking platform designed to protect companies against one of cybersecurity’s biggest emerging threats: quantum computers capable of breaking today’s encryption systems.
On Thursday, the companies unveiled what they call the Quantum-Resilient SASE Fabric, combining Palo Alto Networks’ secure networking technology with AT&T’s global communications infrastructure.
The platform aims to help businesses defend sensitive information against future quantum attacks while maintaining compatibility with existing networks. The announcement comes as cybersecurity experts increasingly warn that organizations must begin preparing now for a technology shift that could eventually render many current encryption methods obsolete.
Palo Alto said the technology addresses a growing concern known as “harvest now, decrypt later.” In that scenario, cybercriminals or hostile governments steal encrypted information today and store it until future quantum computers become powerful enough to decode it.
Additionally, AT&T Business said quantum readiness has become an immediate strategic priority rather than a distant research project. The company argued that organizations storing sensitive customer records, financial information and government data face long-term risks because some information must remain confidential for decades.
Modern encryption relies on mathematical problems that conventional computers cannot solve within practical timeframes. For more than three decades, those calculations have protected banking systems, government communications, online shopping and countless other digital services.
However, quantum computers operate differently than traditional machines. Instead of processing information one step at a time, they exploit quantum mechanics to solve certain mathematical problems dramatically faster.
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Attackers may be collecting data for future attacks as tech matures
The companies pointed to Shor’s Algorithm as the primary concern. That mathematical approach could eventually allow quantum computers to crack encryption methods such as RSA and Diffie-Hellman far more quickly than today’s computers. Tasks that would require thousands of years on current supercomputers could eventually take only hours using sufficiently advanced quantum hardware.
Furthermore, the companies stressed that organizations cannot wait until large-scale quantum computers become commercially available. They argued that attackers may already be collecting encrypted data for future decryption once the technology matures.
To address that threat, Palo Alto Networks integrated post-quantum cryptography directly into its Prisma Secure Access Service Edge, or SASE, platform. Rather than replacing existing networking equipment, the company designed the software to support new encryption standards through cloud-based updates.
The system protects several different parts of a corporate network.
First, Palo Alto Networks upgraded its control systems to use Transport Layer Security 1.3, commonly called TLS 1.3. That protocol secures the commands that manage network traffic and security policies while helping prevent attackers from impersonating legitimate users.
Meanwhile, the company strengthened the data transmission layer using standards published by the Internet Engineering Task Force. Those standards allow organizations to use hybrid key exchanges that combine conventional encryption with quantum-resistant algorithms.
In practical terms, the approach wraps information inside two different layers of protection. One layer maintains compatibility with current computer systems. The second layer guards against future quantum attacks without slowing network performance or disrupting normal operations.
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Palo Alto emphasizes crypto-agility
Additionally, Palo Alto Networks said it encrypts network logs and operational telemetry while data travels across its systems. Those records contain information about network activity rather than the contents of customer files. The company also said customers can keep that operational data within selected geographic regions to help satisfy data residency requirements.
The company also emphasized what cybersecurity professionals call crypto-agility.
Instead of relying permanently on one encryption standard, crypto-agile systems allow organizations to adopt newer mathematical algorithms as security guidance evolves. Palo Alto Networks said customers can receive those updates through automated cloud software rather than replacing expensive hardware.
Furthermore, the company’s Prisma SD-WAN ION hardware includes secure boot technology and Trusted Platform Module 2.0 security chips. Those components verify that authorized software loads during startup while securely storing encryption keys and digital certificates inside dedicated hardware.
AT&T Business focused on the networking side of the partnership.
The telecommunications provider said companies increasingly operate across fiber, 5G wireless, private circuits and public internet connections. Maintaining consistent security across those different transport methods has become more difficult as businesses expand remote offices and hybrid work arrangements.
Consequently, AT&T designed the platform to apply the same post-quantum protections regardless of how data travels between locations. The company said that approach removes weak points that sometimes appear when organizations combine several networking technologies.
The platform also automates deployment.
When businesses activate new branch offices through zero-touch provisioning, security policies automatically extend to those locations. AT&T said the branches receive quantum-resistant protections immediately without requiring technicians to configure each site individually.
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Quantum-ready networking is a gradual process
Additionally, AT&T said growing regulatory requirements increase pressure for organizations to modernize cybersecurity. The company cited Europe’s NIS2 and DORA regulations along with the United States’ National Security Agency Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite 2.0 guidance as examples encouraging stronger cryptographic protections.
The partnership also integrates Palo Alto Networks’ security platform directly with AT&T’s private network through Service Provider Interconnect technology.
Instead of routing encrypted business traffic across multiple public internet pathways, organizations can connect directly into AT&T’s network backbone. The companies said that design reduces latency while maintaining stronger security protections.
Historically, stronger encryption often slowed network performance because computers required additional processing power. However, the companies said their combined architecture avoids many of those performance penalties by integrating security directly into the networking infrastructure.
Meanwhile, both companies identified branch offices as one of the most important cybersecurity priorities.
Retail stores, healthcare clinics, warehouses and regional offices increasingly function as major entry points for corporate information. Employees also access business systems through mobile devices connected over 5G networks instead of traditional office connections.
To secure those locations, the platform uses hybrid public key infrastructure.
Each connected device receives two digital identities. One credential works with existing computer systems, while the second uses quantum resistant cryptographic methods. The companies said that dual approach protects remote facilities against both current cyberattacks and future quantum enabled identity spoofing attempts.
Furthermore, Palo Alto Networks and AT&T described the transition to quantum ready networking as a gradual process requiring long term planning rather than immediate infrastructure replacement. They said businesses can strengthen their security posture through software updates while continuing to use much of their existing networking equipment.
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