Arqit SKA-Platform vs Q*Bird: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)

Mid-market and enterprise security teams managing distributed endpoints without quantum-resistant encryption should evaluate Arqit SKA-Platform if post-quantum cryptography is a compliance or procurement requirement within 18 months. The platform generates one-time-use symmetric keys at each endpoint using NIST ML-KEM algorithms, achieving per-session key rotation and perfect forward secrecy without centralized key storage, which directly addresses PR.AA authentication and PR.DS data confidentiality under NIST CSF 2.0. Skip this if your organization lacks the budget for hybrid deployment infrastructure or views post-quantum migration as a 2030+ problem; the tool solves a real threat but only for buyers already convinced quantum key distribution is urgent.