IonQ and ARLIS Partner to Establish Zero Trust Security Framework for Mission-Critical Quantum Architectures

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Key Terms

zero trust architecture technical

Zero trust architecture is a cybersecurity approach that assumes no user, device, or connection is automatically safe and requires continuous verification for every access request—like checking ID at every door rather than leaving some doors unlocked. For investors, it matters because companies that adopt zero trust reduce the chance of costly data breaches, operational disruption, and regulatory penalties, protecting revenue, reputation, and long‑term value.

nist regulatory

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a U.S. government agency that creates technical standards, testing methods and best-practice guidance for measurements, technology and cybersecurity. For investors, NIST guidance matters because companies that comply can lower operational and regulatory risk, speed product validation, and build customer and partner trust—similar to using a trusted blueprint that makes a product safer and easier to sell.

sp800-207 regulatory

A U.S. government cybersecurity guideline that lays out the principles and practical steps for a “zero trust” approach to protecting digital systems. It treats every user, device and connection as potentially untrusted—like checking ID at every door instead of relying on a single front gate—so organizations can reduce the chance of breaches. Investors care because following these standards affects a company’s security risk, regulatory readiness, and potential costs from cyber incidents.

quantum internet technical

A quantum internet is a new kind of communications network that uses the strange properties of quantum particles to send information in ways that are extremely hard to intercept or copy. For investors it matters because it could create markets for ultra-secure communications, enable networked quantum computing services, and render many current cybersecurity products obsolete — similar to how fiber optics changed data speeds, the quantum internet could reshape infrastructure and competitive advantage.

03/10/2026 - 08:00 AM

Collaboration leverages NIST standards to transition quantum security from static perimeters to continuous verification across the hardware, software, and networking ecosystems

COLLEGE PARK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the world’s leading quantum company, today announced a collaboration with the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) on SEQCURE (Securing Experimental Quantum Computing Usage in Research Environments), a program sponsored by the Secretary of the Air Force’s Concepts, Development, and Management Office.

This collaboration is intended to advance the state of quantum computing security by analyzing existing commercial quantum computing security practices with an aim to understand what it would take to deploy Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) to future quantum computers. ZTA is defined by the NIST standard SP800-207 and involves moving security from a static, perimeters-based paradigm to one that continuously verifies access to all key resources in a computer system.

“As quantum systems transition into the bedrock of national infrastructure, the shift from legacy perimeter security to a Zero Trust Architecture is a strategic imperative,” said Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ. “By integrating NIST-defined continuous verification across every pillar of our quantum platform—computing, networking, sensing, and security—we are not just building the world’s most powerful quantum systems; we are ensuring they are the most trusted quantum ecosystem. This project with ARLIS is a definitive step in creating the secure, verifiable framework required for the future of the quantum internet and national-scale deployments.”

Through this project, IonQ will assist ARLIS in defining a ZTA framework based on standards set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), ensuring quantum technologies can be deployed securely across hardware, software, data, and cloud environments. The resulting architecture standards will guide trusted integration across federal agencies.

“We are happy to be working together with industry leaders such as IonQ on this important program,” said Paul Lopata, Chief Quantum Scientist at ARLIS. “We are hopeful that the results of this work will eventually be deployed into commercial systems for industry and government users to use with confidence.”

This collaboration builds on IonQ’s growing portfolio of federal partnerships, including existing contracts with ARLIS, DARPA and the U.S. Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), and it reflects the company’s continued leadership in building the world’s most complete quantum platform.

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the forthcoming IonQ Tempo, will be the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.

Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Toronto, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com.

About MIQA@ARLIS

MIQA@ARLIS advances quantum information science and related quantum technologies with a focus on advancing their national security and intelligence applications. MIQA@ARLIS brings together expertise from academia, industry, and government to accelerate the transition of quantum research into deployable capabilities.

Launched in April 2025 and located in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District, MIQA supports ARLIS’s mission as a DoW-designated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) and contributes to the university’s broader leadership in quantum science and engineering.

About The Applied Research Laboratory For Intelligence And Security

The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence & Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland is a University-Affiliated Research Center (UARC) dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and technology transition to improve decision making for U.S. national security. ARLIS advances high‐value research and state-of-the-art infrastructure to provide engagement advantage. ARLIS combines deep scientific expertise with operational insight to address challenges in intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence / machine learning, quantum science, and human-machine teaming. Researchers, scientists, engineers, and analysts at ARLIS collaborate with government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions to deliver actionable insights and transformative solutions through research and development. ARLIS provides access to world-class students and researchers, expanding the pipeline of skilled talent essential to drive technological innovation and strengthen national capabilities. Employees at ARLIS work on projects of critical importance, contribute directly to the nation’s security, and are supported by a culture that values integrity, collaboration, and professional growth.

IonQ Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words. Statements that are not historical in nature, including the words “building,” “will,” “step,” “intend” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those related to the IonQ’s quantum computing capabilities and plans; IonQ’s technology driving commercial quantum advantage or delivering scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing, systems or infrastructure in the future; the necessity, effectiveness, and future impacts of IonQ’s offerings available today; and the scalability, fidelity, efficiency, viability, accessibility, effectiveness, importance, reliability, performance, speed, impact, practicality, feasibility, and commercial-readiness of IonQ’s offerings. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: IonQ’s ability to implement its technical roadmap; changes in the competitive industries in which IonQ operates, including development of competing technologies; IonQ’s ability to deliver, and customers’ ability to generate, value from IonQ’s offerings; IonQ’s ability to deliver next-generation electronics and materials, scale system capacity, enhance system performance, higher speed and fidelity gates with fewer errors, enhance information transfer and network accuracy, or reduce noise and errors; IonQ’s ability to sell effectively to government entities and large enterprises; changes in laws and regulations affecting IonQ’s and its suppliers’ businesses; IonQ’s ability to implement its business plans, forecasts, roadmaps and other expectations, to identify and realize partnerships and opportunities, and to engage new and existing customers; IonQ’s ability to effectively enter new markets; IonQ’s ability to deliver services and products within currently anticipated timelines; changes in U.S. government spending or policy that may affect IonQ’s customers; and risks associated with U.S. government sales, including availability of funding and provisions that allow the government to unilaterally terminate or modify contracts for convenience; changes in laws and regulations affecting IonQ’s patents; and IonQ’s ability to maintain or obtain patent protection for its products and technology, including with sufficient breadth to provide a competitive advantage. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company’s filings, including but not limited to those described in the “Risk Factors” section of IonQ’s most recent periodic financial report (10-Q or 10-K) filed by IonQ with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and IonQ assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. IonQ does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations. IonQ may or may not choose to practice or otherwise use the inventions described in the issued patents in the future.