The rapid advancement of quantum technologies calls for the design and deployment of quantum-safe cryptographic protocols and communication networks. There are two primary approaches to achieving quantum-resistant security: quantum key distribution (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography (PQC). While each offers unique advantages, both have drawbacks in practical implementation. In this work, we introduce the pros and cons of these protocols and explore how they can be combined to achieve a higher level of security and/or improved performance in key distribution. We hope our discussion inspires further research into the design of hybrid cryptographic protocols for quantum-classical communication networks.

翻译：量子技术的快速发展要求设计和部署量子安全的密码协议与通信网络。实现抗量子安全性主要有两种途径：量子密钥分发（QKD）与后量子密码学（PQC）。尽管各自具备独特优势，但两者在实际应用中均存在缺陷。本文介绍了这些协议的优缺点，并探讨如何将它们结合以实现更高级别的安全性和/或改进密钥分发的性能。我们希望本文的讨论能激发对量子-经典通信网络中混合密码协议设计的进一步研究。