Our goal is to come up with a sustainable and feasible migration strategy for post-quantum DNSSEC.

Problem Statement

The swift progress in quantum computing development presents a significant risk to the security and robustness of the Domain Name System (DNS). Quantum computers, with their unmatched computational power, have the potential to effortlessly crack the classical cryptographic methods currently securing the DNS. Given the DNS’s essential and foundational role in the global Internet infrastructure, safeguarding it against quantum threats and adversaries equipped with quantum capabilities is crucial. Failure to achieve this security promptly will undermine the DNS’s core function—reliably translating domain names into their corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) addresses—eroding trust in this critical system. The repercussions for Australia could be profound, affecting digital innovation, inclusion, and economic stability. Thus, there is an immediate and pressing need to transition the DNS to a state where it is demonstrably secure against quantum threats.

However, this transition is complex and requires meticulous planning to balance security against quantum attacks with practical efficiency. This project is designed to address this substantial challenge by identifying, implementing, and evaluating the necessary modifications to the DNS. Our goal is to ensure a safe and efficient transition to a quantum-safe state while maintaining operational reliability and performance. Ultimately, this project will deliver a quantum-safe version of the DNS, resilient to both classical and quantum computing attacks.