NUS signs MOU with Fortinet on quantum security technologies

SINGAPORE, June 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortinet^®, a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, has announced a collaboration with Singapore’s Quantum Engineering Programme (QEP) to support Singapore’s National Quantum-Safe Network (NQSN) project. Funded by the National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF), the NQSN seeks to develop an ultra-secure communications and services infrastructure to safeguard digital transactions against sophisticated cyber threats.

Representatives from Fortinet and the National University of Singapore (NUS), which hosts the QEP, signed a memorandum-of-understanding (MOU) at the TechXLR8 Asia event in Singapore on 3^rd June 2022. Fortinet’s work with NQSN will support QEP in proof of concepts and jointly explore use cases for quantum-safe communications. Fortinet will provide resources in network security including prototypes that can interface to quantum devices for trials within the NQSN.

Fortinet has demonstrated capabilities to interoperate with a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system. QKD technology can create random encryption keys and transmit them in a secure way across a fibre connection. Leveraging on its capabilities to offer security-driven networking solutions, Fortinet’s firewalls were able to receive randomly-generated quantum keys, and use them to encrypt data to be sent 20 kilometres remotely using Fortinet IP-VPN (Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network) solutions to provide quantum-safe encryption.

As a partner in NQSN, Fortinet is at the forefront of the forward-looking national initiative that seeks to thwart cyber attacks from future, large-scale quantum computers and identify new use cases for quantum technologies. Through this collaboration, Fortinet will support Singapore’s ongoing transition into a trusted digital innovation hub.

Alexander Ling, Director of the QEP and an Associate Professor at NUS, said, “The National Quantum-Safe Network will rely on public-private collaborations to become an effective testbed. It needs to bridge advanced quantum-safe communication technologies to practical use-cases. We welcome the involvement of Fortinet as an experienced cybersecurity provider in pursuing this mission.”

Jess Ng, Fortinet Country Head of Singapore and Brunei, said, “Fortinet is dedicated to being at the frontline of Singapore’s Smart Nation initiatives, through a range of private and public sector cybersecurity partnerships. Fortinet’s support for the QEP will boost the development of quantum-safe communication technologies that will transform the digital landscape. This will also set the stage for organizations to adopt a security-driven networking approach when it comes to future deployment.”

About Fortinet
Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) makes possible a digital world that we can always trust through its mission to protect people, devices, and data everywhere. This is why the world’s largest enterprises, service providers, and government organisations choose Fortinet to securely accelerate their digital journey. The Fortinet Security Fabric platform delivers broad, integrated, and automated protections across the entire digital attack surface, securing critical devices, data, applications, and connections from the data centre to the cloud to the home office. Ranking #1 in the most security appliances shipped worldwide, more than 580,000 customers trust Fortinet to protect their businesses. And the Fortinet NSE Training Institute, an initiative of Fortinet’s Training Advancement Agenda (TAA), provides one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry to make cyber training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, or FortiGuard Labs.

About Quantum Engineering Programme
Singapore’s Quantum Engineering Programme (QEP) aims to realise the benefits of quantum technologies for society. Launched in 2018, it supports translational research focused on industry challenges and initiatives to nurture a quantum ecosystem. The QEP supports R&D projects in three pillars: quantum sensing, quantum communication and security, and quantum computing and processors. The programme also involves three national platforms – the Quantum-Safe Network, Quantum Computing Hub and Quantum Fabless Foundry – and grows the ecosystem through public-private collaborations and events. Coordinated nationally across various research organisations, it is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and hosted by the National University of Singapore. Learn more at www.qepsg.org.

About National University of Singapore (NUS)
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university, which offers a global approach to education, research and entrepreneurship, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. We have 17 faculties across three campuses in Singapore, with more than 40,000 students from 100 countries enriching our vibrant and diverse campus community. We have also established our NUS Overseas Colleges programme in more than 15 cities around the world.

Our multidisciplinary and real-world approach to education, research and entrepreneurship enables us to work closely with industry, governments and academia to address crucial and complex issues relevant to Asia and the world. Researchers in our faculties, 30 university-level research institutes, research centres of excellence and corporate labs focus on themes that include energy; environmental and urban sustainability; treatment and prevention of diseases; active ageing; advanced materials; risk management and resilience of financial systems; Asian studies; and Smart Nation capabilities such as artificial intelligence, data science, operations research and cybersecurity.

For more information on NUS, please visit www.nus.edu.sg.