Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) is cryptography designed to be resistant to quantum computer attacks, protecting systems against the future threat of quantum computing.
What is Post-Quantum Cryptography?
Post-quantum cryptography includes cryptographic algorithms that are believed to be secure against both classical and quantum computer attacks.
Quantum Threat
Shor’s Algorithm
- Factorization: Breaks RSA and ECC
- Discrete Logarithm: Breaks Diffie-Hellman
- Time: Exponential to polynomial
- Impact: Breaks current asymmetric cryptography
Grover’s Algorithm
- Search: Accelerates database search
- Hash Functions: Reduces security by half
- Symmetric: Affects symmetric encryption
- Impact: Requires longer keys
Transition Time
- Y2Q (Years to Quantum): Estimated time
- Harvest Now, Decrypt Later: Storage attacks
- Migration Period: Migration period
- Legacy Systems: Legacy systems
PQC Algorithm Families
Lattice-Based
- NTRU: Encryption algorithm
- Learning With Errors (LWE): Mathematical problem
- Ring-LWE: LWE variant
- Applications: Encryption, signatures, key exchange
Code-Based
- McEliece: Encryption system
- Niederreiter: Encryption system
- Classic McEliece: Standardized version
- Applications: Encryption, key exchange
Hash-Based
- XMSS: Digital signature
- SPHINCS+: Digital signature
- LMS: Digital signature
- Applications: Digital signatures
Isogeny-Based
- SIKE: Key exchange
- SIDH: Key exchange
- CSIDH: Key exchange
- Applications: Key exchange
Multivariate
- Rainbow: Digital signature
- GeMSS: Digital signature
- LUOV: Digital signature
- Applications: Digital signatures
NIST Standard Algorithms
NIST Round 4 (2024)
- CRYSTALS-Kyber: KEM encryption
- CRYSTALS-Dilithium: Digital signature
- FALCON: Digital signature
- SPHINCS+: Digital signature
Alternative Algorithms
- Classic McEliece: KEM encryption
- BIKE: KEM encryption
- HQC: KEM encryption
- SIKE: Key exchange (withdrawn)
Practical Implementation
CRYSTALS-Kyber
CRYSTALS-Dilithium
Migration to PQC
Migration Strategy
- Assessment: Assess current systems
- Prioritization: Prioritize critical systems
- Hybrid Approach: Hybrid approach
- Testing: Exhaustive testing
Hybrid Approach
Migration Tools
- Open Quantum Safe: PQC libraries
- NIST PQC Reference: Reference implementations
- Migration Tools: Migration tools
- Testing Suites: Testing suites
Specific Applications
Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies
- Quantum-Resistant Wallets: Resistant wallets
- Post-Quantum Signatures: Post-quantum signatures
- Quantum-Safe Transactions: Safe transactions
- Migration Strategies: Migration strategies
Internet and Communications
- TLS/SSL: Secure protocols
- Email Security: Email security
- VPN: Virtual private networks
- DNS Security: DNS security
IoT and Devices
- Lightweight PQC: Lightweight PQC
- Resource Constraints: Resource constraints
- Power Consumption: Power consumption
- Memory Usage: Memory usage
Government and Defense
- National Security: National security
- Classified Information: Classified information
- Critical Infrastructure: Critical infrastructure
- Military Communications: Military communications
Challenges and Limitations
Performance
- Computational Overhead: Computational overhead
- Memory Usage: Memory usage
- Key Sizes: Key sizes
- Signature Sizes: Signature sizes
Implementation
- Complexity: Implementation complexity
- Testing: Exhaustive testing
- Interoperability: Interoperability
- Legacy Support: Legacy support
Standards
- NIST Standardization: NIST standardization
- ISO Standards: ISO standards
- IETF Standards: IETF standards
- Industry Adoption: Industry adoption
Tools and Libraries
Open Quantum Safe
NIST PQC Reference
Roadmap and Timeline
NIST Timeline
- 2016: Process start
- 2022: Round 3 completed
- 2024: Round 4 completed
- 2025+: Commercial implementation
Industry Adoption
- 2025-2027: Early implementation
- 2027-2030: Widespread adoption
- 2030+: PQC dominance
- Legacy: Legacy systems
Related Concepts
- AES - Algorithm that requires longer post-quantum keys
- RSA - Algorithm vulnerable to quantum computing
- ECC - Algorithm vulnerable to quantum computing
- Hash Functions - Algorithms that require longer keys
- TLS/SSL - Protocol that needs PQC migration
- PKI - Infrastructure that requires PQC
- HSM - Devices that support PQC
- CISO - Role that oversees PQC migration
- General Cybersecurity - Discipline that includes PQC
- Security Breaches - Incidents that affect PQC
- Attack Vectors - Quantum attacks
- Incident Response - Process that includes PQC
- SIEM - System that monitors PQC
- SOAR - Automation that manages PQC
- EDR - Tool that protects PQC
- Firewall - Device that can inspect PQC
- VPN - Connection that uses PQC
- Dashboards - Visualization of PQC metrics
- Logs - PQC operation logs