In 2016, IBM® delivered the world’s first accessible, cloud-enabled quantum processor. We’ve spent the near decade since upgrading our cloud-based quantum computers from the small, experimental devices of 2016 to the high-performance, utility-scale devices we have today. Now, it’s time we upgraded the way users access those devices as well.
We’re upgrading IBM Quantum Platform with enterprise-grade infrastructure, and releasing an early access preview version of the new Platform that you can begin exploring today. Once it’s complete, the final version of the new IBM Quantum Platform will be very similar to the version you use now, and we’ll ensure that you continue to have access to the documentation and learning resources we’ve traditionally housed there. However, this move gives us the ability to boost performance and roll out powerful features that many of you have been requesting for a long time—features that would be difficult or impossible to deploy with our current infrastructure.
The first examples of this will include enhanced data privacy and security features, a streamlined notifications experience, better platform navigation, multiple language options for users who speak languages other than English, and much, much more. You’ll find a detailed list of features and benefits we’re introducing with the upgrade at the bottom of this article.
Get started now. IBM Quantum Open Plan and Pay-as-you-go Plan users can start exploring the early access Platform today.
Please note: If your IBM Quantum Platform access falls under a plan administrator (e.g., Premium Plan, Dedicated service, Startup program, etc.), you will receive guided migration support through your administrator in the coming months. In the meantime, you are welcome to create a free Open plan account to explore the new platform.
“Early access” means that this new version of the Platform is a preview that is still under development. Our hope is that you’ll begin trying it out now, so we can use your feedback to improve its functionality before we release the full version. There’s no need for you to migrate right away if you don’t feel you’re ready yet. However, the current version of IBM Quantum Platform will eventually be sunset. We’ll make sure you have ample notice, but all users will need to migrate to the new Platform before that point, so we strongly encourage you to read this blog closely and begin exploring the new Platform soon.
IBM Quantum Platform is a direct descendant of the IBM Q Experience we launched in 2016, back when our burgeoning quantum community did not require the same powerful, flexible, and highly secure cloud solutions that are necessary in fields like AI and data science. However, the needs of the quantum community are changing fast. Quantum computers have evolved into powerful, high-performance tools that academic, enterprise, and government research organizations are using to explore scientific problems beyond the reach of classical computation. To support this work, to continue scaling our services along the IBM Quantum Roadmap, and to provide all users with access to high-performance quantum systems backed by the latest data privacy and security measures, we must mature our platform to create an enterprise-grade cloud experience.
Below, we’ll share more information on why we’re making this change, the long-term benefits it will bring, and key details to keep in mind for everyone preparing for the migration. For detailed instructions on how to access the upgraded Platform, be sure to refer to the documentation links in the next section.
IBM Quantum Platform upgrade documentation links
General Migration guide. Includes details on creating an account for the new Platform and updating runtime provider code.
Migration guide for REST API users. Covers special instructions for users of the Qiskit Runtime REST API.
When to start the transition
If you’re an Open Plan or Pay-as-you-go Plan user who is interested in getting a head start on your migration to the new IBM Quantum Platform, you can do so now by following the instructions in the migration guide linked above. We encourage you to make the move as soon as you’re able to do so. Early access users will have the opportunity to provide vital feedback to our developer team as we prepare for the official launch later this year.
Additionally, we are pleased to announce that the new Platform will give Open Plan users access to a state-of-the-art IBM Quantum Heron QPU with tunable coupling architecture for the first time. As of today, quantum computers powered by Heron are available only to Premium Plan users. With the new IQP, all users will have access to at least one Heron QPU.
Reminder: If your IBM Quantum Platform access falls under a plan administrator (e.g., Premium Plan, Dedicated service, Startup program, etc.), you will receive guided migration support through your administrator in the coming months. In the meantime, you are welcome to create a free Open plan account to explore the new platform.
Why we’re making this change
The biggest driver behind our decision to upgrade the Platform is the simple fact that our users have spent years asking for important features that we cannot deliver with our current infrastructure. We want you to know that we’ve been listening, and now we’re forging ahead. Our ultimate goal is to build a new platform robust enough to handle all of our current and future services.
Improved stability. To prepare for users’ first demonstrations of quantum advantage, we need to ensure that the platform is stable and reliable enough to run even more complex workflows. Upgraded cloud services provide a much more resilient infrastructure and advanced failover mechanisms that will significantly improve the stability of the new Platform, helping to minimize service interruptions and ensure consistent performance. These new capabilities further enhance reliability, providing a steady and dependable foundation for the Platform over the long term.
Data locality. As part of our security enhancements and in an ongoing effort to boost processing proximity and regulatory compliance for all users, we are planning to introduce new data locality features with the launch of the new Platform. This means you can choose to have your data and experiments live in certain regions—e.g., If you are based in the EU you can now run all your experiments in our European Datacenter.
Enhanced security. One of the most important features we’ll be able to deliver with the new Platform is an enhanced security and compliance posture that will ensure long-term protection for your data.
Enterprise cloud features. IBM Quantum Platform’s new enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure provides you with many features that will be useful for enterprises and other large organizations. These include local language support, SSO integration, Service IDs, advanced permissions and user management, and improved management of API keys and tokens.
Seamless cloud integrations. This upgrade will enable the Platform to offer seamless integration with off-the-shelf cloud compute services like Cloud Object Storage (COS) and Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). These services can give you significantly greater control over how your data and cloud resources are stored, managed, and secured to facilitate AI, HPC, and other workloads.
Integrating new and existing access plans. The move to the upgraded Platform experience allows us to create a unified entry point for all services related to IBM Quantum. This means that Pay-as-you-Go users will now employ the same dashboard as all other users. This also means we can accelerate the introduction of new access plans that give you even more options for how you use our quantum computers.
Streamlined communications. Our newly unified notification system gives you a convenient, centralized location for tracking account updates, service alerts, and software releases, with greater control over how you receive notifications.
Improved developer experience. We’re using the upcoming transition to introduce a number of features that will improve the developer experience. One example of this is API versioning on the Qiskit Runtime REST API, which allows developers to work with specific API versions confidently—avoiding breaking changes while simplifying testing and feature rollouts. This ensures a smoother and more predictable workflow for developers.
The next evolution of IBM Quantum Platform
This is an exciting time in quantum computing. With the quantum and HPC communities working together, the world now finds itself on the cusp of achieving quantum advantage, and we believe it will be only a few short years before we achieve quantum error correction and fault tolerance. Big things are coming soon, and we need a cloud platform robust enough to carry through this period of quantum utility, and into the fast-approaching era of quantum advantage. Create an account and start exploring the new IBM Quantum Platform in early access mode today!