Post-Quantum Cryptography Is Coming — Are You Ready?

In this digital-first world, trust and security are built on a system called Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). PKI is what enables you to securely communicate over the internet. It is the infrastructure and framework that issues and manages digital certificates, allowing webpages, solutions, devices, and users to authenticate with each other and exchange information securely.

Every time you see the padlock icon in your browser’s address bar, PKI is doing its job behind the curtains.

As technology evolves, so will the risks. One emerging threat that is becoming more and more real is that of quantum computing—a new kind of computing that, while still in its early stages of development, could eventually render much of today’s encryption obsolete.

What is Post-Quantum Cryptography?

Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) refers to the generation of cryptographic algorithms designed to resist the tremendous processing capabilities of cryptographically capable quantum computers. Algorithms like RSA and ECC, which have long laid as the foundations of PKI, may be secure today against classical computers—but quantum computers will be able to break them with relative ease.

To get ahead of this, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been leading a multi-year global initiative to identify and standardize new, quantum-resistant algorithms. The first set of these standards are already being defined, and organizations have already started planning for the transition.

Why This Matters Now

Cryptographically capable Quantum Computers might be years away—but that does not mean we can afford to wait. Sensitive data being encrypted and stored today could still be at risk in the future. Threat actors could be harvesting your encrypted information right now, with plans to decrypt it later once quantum capabilities mature and become available to such actors.

That’s why forward-thinking organizations are already taking measurements to prepare their systems for a post-quantum world.

The Role of Crypto Agility

A key part of that preparation is the implementation of crypto agility into your company landscape. Crypto agility entails having the ability to swiftly adopt new cryptographic standards without overhauling your entire infrastructure.

This might involve upgrading software, rethinking certificate management processes, or ensuring that your PKI remain versatile and can support multiple algorithms at the same time. It is about being ready to pivot and adapt as threats evolve. Whether that is due to quantum computing or other vulnerabilities and threats that may arise in the future.

Shorter Certificate Lifespans: A Step Toward Agility 

Another trend gaining momentum in building towards crypto agility is the shortening of certificate lifespans. Where digital certificates were once valid for multiple years, many are now only limited to one year, 90 days or even shorter. For example, Apple has already committed to reducing their SSL/TLS certificate lifespan to just a couple of weeks!

Shorter lifespans help minimize risks by limiting the timeframe of exposure if a certificate were to be compromised. They also support crypto agility by making it easier to implement new, stronger algorithms at a higher frequency—without relying on long-term, hard-to-update credentials.

What Organizations Can Do

Preparing for PQC has a long runway and does not require a complete infrastructure overhaul overnight. But it does mean that acting proactively today may save you a headache in the future:

• Assess your current cryptographic landscape to understand where quantum-vulnerable algorithms are in your crypto inventory.

• Modernize your PKI architecture to support crypto agility and the shortening of certificate lifespans.

• Stay informed about NIST’s PQC standardization timeline and be prepared to adopt new algorithms and standards as they are finalized.

The shift to post-quantum cryptography will be one of the more important changes to cybersecurity in decades, akin to the shift from SHA1 to SHA2. Organizations that start their PQC journey today will be better positioned to protect their data, reputation, and customers in the years ahead.

Bottom line: Quantum threats may be on the horizon, but preparation starts today. Crypto agility, modern PKI practices, and shorter certificate lifespans are key to staying secure in a fast-changing digital world.