Quantum computers will be able to solve complex problems in seconds, problems that would take today's most powerful computers thousands of years to solve. This capability poses a fundamental challenge to our reliable cybersecurity systems. Afterall, much of our faith in certain password complexities and length come from our certainty that it would take thousands of years to break the encryption. However, experts believe quantum computers will crack most modern encryption methods we use by 2033.

"Okay," you may be thinking, "so we have roughly seven years? We should be good, right?" Not exactly. Quantum computing threats create an urgent cybersecurity challenge that needs immediate attention, as any encrypted data intercepted now could be stored and decoded once quantum computers become powerful enough. Consumer awareness remains surprisingly low about these quantum cybersecurity risks, and organizations might need decades to switch to quantum-safe protocols.

Today, we’ll show you everything you need to protect your network against quantum computing encryption risks. Your organization can keep up with trends during this fundamental technological change.

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Understanding Quantum Computing Threats

Shor's algorithm…If you’ve looked into quantum computing at all, you know this particular algorithm is a large threat to our current encryption methods. This powerful tool lets quantum computers quickly solve the same complex math problems that are the foundations of modern cryptographic systems. What makes this so alarming is that it can use a public key to reverse engineer the private key, essentially breaking asymmetric encryption.

I want to repeat this: it can reverse engineer a private cryptographic key, using only the public key.

Using this algorithm, it’s been demonstrated that a quantum computer using 20 million qubits could crack RSA-2048 (one of our most common encryption standards) in just eight hours. And while we are nowhere near 20-million-qubit computers, the fact remains that once they arrive, asymmetric encryption's security is basically gone.

And it gets worse. Because quantum computers optimize how they solve problems, they can attack multiple encryption algorithms at once. So it’s not just breaking one key in eight hours, it’s breaking several keys in eight hours. At least in theory, and that brings us to the next point: we’re not there yet.

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Timeline of quantum threat emergence

Experts agree that Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computers (CRQCs) won't be able to break current encryption until at least the 2030s. Recent surveys show growing worry though - belief that the chances of seeing a CRQC within 10 years now sit at 19-34%, up from 17-31% in 2023. And while these are really just educated guesses, we have to remember that they are educated guesses. They aren’t coming from random people on the street, but experts in the industry who are keeping up with quantum research.

A newer study, published by 250 large corporations, shows about 60% of Canadian organizations and 78% of US companies expect quantum computers to become mainstream by 2030. According to the same study, Germany's Federal Office for Information Security found that 95% of people they asked rated quantum computing's effect on cryptographic security systems as "very high or high."

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Most vulnerable security areas

Quantum threats hit these critical areas hardest:

• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI): Quantum attacks put asymmetric encryption methods like RSA and ECC at immediate risk.
• Stored Data: Many organizations don't realize cyber attackers already grab and store encrypted company data to decrypt it later with quantum computers.
• Financial Systems: Quantum technology could let criminals access banking transactions and financial records without permission.
• National Security: The U.S. National Security Agency warns that enemies with quantum computers could devastate National Security Systems.

"Harvest now, decrypt later" attacks make things worse. Bad actors already collect encrypted data, waiting for quantum computers to become powerful enough to crack it. This is particularly true for data with lasting value. Health records, financial information, intellectual property, and classified government files top the list, for obvious reasons. The U.S. government estimates cybercrime costs the American economy $100 billion each year. This number could rise once quantum computers can break current encryption methods.

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Assessing Your Network's Quantum Readiness

Organizations must act now to assess their quantum readiness. The work needed to break down, analyze, plan, and verify new post-quantum cryptography affects each organization differently.

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Security audit checklist

A detailed security audit builds the foundation of quantum readiness. Organizations need to assess the following areas:

• Data Mapping and Classification: Annual data mapping helps identify systems that process sensitive information. The data's "shelf-life" or "half-life" determines its protection duration.
• Cryptographic Estate Assessment: Document every system and application that uses cryptography. Focus on:
  • Web browsing protocols
  • Remote access systems
  • Digital signatures
  • Communication channels
  • Cryptocurrency implementations
• Supply Chain Evaluation: Review how vendors and third parties affect your organization's quantum security strategy. This means checking their plans and timelines to implement quantum-resistant cryptography.

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Risk assessment framework

The risk assessment framework adds quantum threats to your existing cybersecurity risk management program. Three critical timelines need attention:

1. Migration Timeline: Years needed to move all important data systems to quantum-safe cryptography
2. Shelf-life Timeline: How long your high-value information needs protection
3. Threat Timeline: Expected time before threat actors can break existing cryptography

Making this framework work requires organizations to:

• Monitor High-Risk Technologies: Regular system and application checks help set priorities in the quantum security roadmap. This includes checking technical debt in systems that can't run modern cryptographic profiles.
• Embed Quantum Risk Management: Add quantum risk to your organization's risk register or scorecard. This tracks and prioritizes efforts to alleviate risks and creates a balanced, full lifecycle risk management program.
• Develop Crypto-Agility: Your systems need flexibility to handle emerging threats and new quantum-secure algorithms. This means finding ways to become more cryptographically agile when deploying new techniques.

The framework tackles potential vulnerabilities in three key layers:

1. Algorithmic Layer: Find cryptographic systems vulnerable to quantum attacks
2. Certificate Layer: Check public key infrastructure and digital signature systems
3. Protocol Layer: Look at network protocols and communication channels

This structured approach helps organizations understand their quantum risk exposure and take steps to alleviate it. The assessment process stays dynamic and accounts for new vulnerabilities, regulation changes, and updated best practices.

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Essential Security Updates for 2025

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalized three groundbreaking post-quantum cryptographic standards in 2024. This marks a vital milestone in quantum computer cybersecurity. Organizations should implement these standards as security updates to shield against quantum threats.

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Encryption protocol upgrades

New encryption protocols serve as the life-blood of quantum-safe security. NIST's standardized algorithms include:

• Module-Lattice-Based Key-Encapsulation Mechanism (ML-KEM) for secure key exchange
• Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm (ML-DSA) for authentication
• Stateless Hash-Based Digital Signature Algorithm (SLH-DSA) for digital signatures

These algorithms target specific weaknesses in current public-key cryptography systems, including RSA, Diffie-Hellman, and Elliptic Curve Cryptography. Organizations should quickly upgrade their Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) with these quantum-resistant protocols.

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Authentication system changes

The U.S. National Security Agency mandates that federal agencies update their authentication systems with quantum-resistant software and firmware signing by 2025. This mandate highlights why strong authentication mechanisms must be implemented now.

Key authentication updates include:

1. ML-DSA replaces traditional public-key algorithms for digital signatures
2. Hybrid mechanisms combine classical and post-quantum cryptography
3. Hardware security modules need updates to support new cryptographic standards

Major Internet service companies have already upgraded their TLS protocols in web browsers to support post-quantum cryptography. The telecommunications industry should review cryptographic inventories throughout their networks and work with vendors on migration plans.

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Network architecture modifications

Networks need significant changes to work with quantum-safe protocols. Post-quantum cryptography provides better security but needs larger key sizes and more computational resources. Because of this, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) are developing hybrid key exchange protocols, with hopes that post-quantum cryptography will appear in the upcoming releases 20 and 21 of 5G, and that 6G will be fully quantum-resistant from the start.

Critical considerations for network modifications include:

• Legacy systems using older versions of security protocols, like TLS 1.2, need upgrades
• Crypto-agile infrastructure must support smooth transitions between cryptographic methods
• Strong monitoring frameworks should detect vulnerabilities quickly
• Organizations should plan network upgrades carefully while maintaining compatibility with existing infrastructure.

The shift to quantum-safe networks needs industry-wide teamwork. The GSMA's Post-Quantum Telco Network Taskforce helps develop policy guidance and risk assessment frameworks. These coordinated efforts will ensure post-quantum security works effectively across different sectors.

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Implementing Quantum-Safe Solutions

NIST's Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Project has shown organizations how to implement quantum-safe security. The project took eight years and has ended with standardized algorithms ready for immediate deployment.

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Post-quantum cryptography options

NIST's standardized post-quantum cryptography suite gives us three main algorithms:

• ML-KEM (formerly CRYSTALS-Kyber) for key exchange mechanisms
• ML-DSA (formerly CRYSTALS-Dilithium) for digital signatures
• SLH-DSA (formerly SPHINCS+) for hash-based signatures

These algorithms use lattice-based problems instead of traditional prime factorization. This makes them strong against both classical and quantum attacks. NIST also plans to make FN-DSA (formerly FALCON) a standard digital signature option.

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Key management updates

Strong key management is the life-blood of quantum-safe implementation. Organizations should focus on:

1. Hardware Security Integration: Organizations need hardware security modules, trusted execution environments, and isolation technologies to protect cryptographic keys.
2. Cloud Service Protection: New guidelines will require secure management of access tokens and cryptographic keys that cloud service providers use by 20230.
3. Hybrid Implementation: A PQ/T hybrid scheme that combines post-quantum algorithms with traditional public-key cryptography is also showing promise.

Of course, the downside is that while hybrid approaches help during transition periods, they are also costly, as well as more complex.

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Testing and validation steps

You need a systematic approach to test and verify successful quantum-safe implementation:

Discovery Phase:

• Create a complete Cryptography Bill of Materials (CBOM)
• Map all cryptographic dependencies across infrastructure
• Find systems that need upgrades or replacement

Assessment Phase:

• Review how sensitive organizational information is and how long it lasts
• Look at IT lifecycle management plans
• Plan budget for software and hardware updates

Implementation Phase:

• Test new cryptographic protocols
• See how system performance changes
• Set up monitoring frameworks

Also, as we noted earlier, current PQC solutions need more computing power and might run slower. As a result, organizations should take a balanced approach and focus first on high-value systems or data that needs long-term protection.

Organizations should also keep talking to vendors about their PQC roadmaps and break down transition paths for custom IT solutions. Vendors should use standardized, verified cryptography with Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) accreditation.

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Creating a Quantum Security Timeline

Organizations need to act now to build a reliable quantum security timeline. NIST has set 2035 as the target date to complete the migration to post-quantum cryptography across Federal systems. This detailed roadmap highlights key milestones that organizations should achieve to protect their networks from quantum threats.

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Short-term priorities

These immediate actions should be completed within three years:

• Leadership Education: Quantum awareness training and educational roadmaps for senior management must be provided
• Risk Assessment: A quick understanding of risks across value chain and business operations is essential
• Cryptographic Inventory: A detailed inventory of current cryptography usage should be created. Organizations must assess encryption requirements against their risk landscape
• Vendor Communication: Organizations should work with vendors about their post-quantum cryptography roadmaps and examine transition paths for custom IT solutions

The U.S. National Security Agency requires federal agencies to update quantum-resistant software and firmware signing by 2025. Organizations should also modernize their cryptographic environments and invest in quantum-resistant technologies accordingly. The goal here is to leave no crack open for quantum breaches.

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Medium-term goals

Organizations should focus on these priorities over the next three to seven years:

1. Protocol Migration: Start transitioning to post-quantum cryptography when standards become available. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) upgrades should come first.
2. Compliance Framework: Guidelines and regulations for post-quantum security must be developed across key at-risk sectors.
3. Testing Programs: Conformance testing of post-quantum cryptography through cryptographic certification programs needs to be established.
4. System Audits: Regular audits should confirm compliance with current post-quantum cryptography standards.

Algorithms that rely on 112-bit security will be deprecated by 2035. Cross-functional teams with leadership, IT, cybersecurity, compliance, and legal departments must develop strategic plans for quantum-safe cryptography transition, and the sooner, the better.

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Long-term planning

Strategic initiatives toward 2035 and beyond should include:

• Infrastructure Modernization: Security stacks need complete upgrades to ensure crypto-agility for future protection.
• Continuous Evolution: Cryptographic protocols must be reviewed and updated regularly as new quantum-safe algorithms emerge.
• Research Investment: Partnerships with academic institutions and industry consortia focused on quantum computing and cryptography should be encouraged.
• End-of-Life Strategy: Plans for data, products, and systems that cannot support new cybersecurity requirements must be created.

Quantum readiness timelines vary greatly among organizations. Technical debt management presents a major challenge, especially for organizations that rely on systems unable to run modern cryptographic profiles.

Organizations can maintain momentum throughout this transition with a balanced approach that has:

• Crypto-Agility: Methods to become more cryptographically agile in updating and deploying new techniques
• Risk Mitigation: Contingency and mitigation plans to prevent quantum attacks
• Continuous Monitoring: Close attention to the rapidly changing quantum and security environment

Today's preparation will be crucial in limiting exposure and vulnerability to emerging threats. Organizations can successfully guide their transition to quantum-safe security through systematic implementation while maintaining operational continuity and data protection.

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Conclusion

Quantum computing brings new challenges and opportunities to network security. Experts believe quantum computers won't break current encryption until the 2030s. Organizations need to act now to shield their sensitive data from "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks.

A full quantum readiness assessment should be your first step. This includes finding vulnerable systems and creating detailed cryptographic inventories. Network defenses will become stronger against future quantum threats after implementing NIST's newly standardized post-quantum algorithms.

Businesses face major risks by postponing quantum-safe preparations until cryptographically relevant quantum computers become real. Quantum security demands immediate attention, especially since detailed quantum-safe protocols take a decade to implement.

Your success relies on realistic timelines and leadership support while you retain control of crypto-agility during the transition. The path to quantum-safe security needs substantial investment and effort. These steps will protect your critical data and infrastructure from emerging quantum threats.

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FAQs

Q1. What is the timeline for quantum computers to break current encryption? Experts predict that quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption methods will likely emerge in the 2030s. However, organizations need to start preparing now due to the "harvest now, decrypt later" threat, where adversaries collect encrypted data to decrypt it once quantum computers become powerful enough.

Q2. How can organizations assess their quantum readiness? Organizations should conduct a comprehensive security audit, including data mapping and classification, cryptographic estate assessment, and supply chain evaluation. They should also implement a risk assessment framework that considers migration timelines, data shelf-life, and the estimated threat timeline for quantum attacks.

Q3. What are the essential security updates needed for quantum-proofing networks? Key updates include upgrading encryption protocols to incorporate NIST's standardized post-quantum algorithms, implementing quantum-resistant authentication systems, and modifying network architecture to support larger key sizes and increased computational resources required for post-quantum cryptography.

Q4. What are the main post-quantum cryptography options available? NIST has standardized three primary algorithms for post-quantum cryptography: ML-KEM for key exchange, ML-DSA for digital signatures, and SLH-DSA for hash-based signatures. These algorithms are designed to be resilient against both classical and quantum attacks.

Q5. How should organizations create a timeline for implementing quantum-safe security? Organizations should develop a phased approach, starting with short-term priorities like leadership education and risk assessment, moving to medium-term goals such as protocol migration and compliance framework development, and finally implementing long-term strategies for infrastructure modernization and continuous evolution of cryptographic protocols.