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Smart grids face emerging threats as connectivity expands attack surfaces. To strengthen smart meter data encryption through optimized integration of a cloud-based quantum random number generator (QRNG) service. QRNGs leverage intrinsic quantum properties to produce true randomness for cryptographic keys. An architecture is presented utilizing a QRNG service on the IBM quantum computing platform. Quantum entropy is remotely sampled and delivered on-demand via APIs to generate quantum random AES encryption keys for smart meter communications. Homomorphic encryption secures credential transmission. Compared to mathematical pseudorandom number generators, the quantum origin provides stronger security against brute force attacks and future quantum computing decryption. Tailoring QRNG generation and integration focuses on the performance, cost, and deployment constraints of grid-wide encryption hardening. The optimized approach aims to maximize randomness while minimizing complexity. By hardening cryptography via readily available quantum key generation, the QRNG integration delivers indispensable security enhancement.
Patel et al. (Fri,) studied this question.