COLLEGE PARK, MD, MARCH 10, 2026 -- 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.