Today, almost all data on the Internet, including bank transactions, medical records, and secure chats, is protected with an encryption scheme called RSA (named after its creators Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman). This scheme is based on a simple fact—it is virtually impossible to calculate the prime factors of a large number in a reasonable amount of time, even on the world’s most powerful supercomputer. Unfortunately, large quantum computers, if and when they are built, would find this task a breeze, thus undermining the security of the entire Internet.
Luckily, quantum computers are only better than classical ones at a select class of problems, and there are plenty of encryption schemes where quantum computers don’t offer any advantage. Aug 13 of 2024, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced the standardization of three post-quantum cryptography encryption schemes. With these standards in hand, NIST is encouraging computer system administrators to begin transitioning to post-quantum security as soon as possible.
The power of quantum computers will bring the imminent end-of-life of the cryptographic foundations we have relied upon for decades. So, what is next? How do you prepare?
The time to act is now
Security experts predict that by 2029, algorithms like RSA and ECC will no longer be safe, and NIST is encouraging organisations to begin the transition to the new standard algorithms as soon as possible.
Attacks are already underway – including Harvest Now, Decrypt Later – where cyber criminals steal and store encrypted data now that can be decrypted using quantum computing capabilities. It is essential that your organisation prepare immediately for this unprecedented cryptographic transformation by adopting crypto agile solutions with these new Quantum-safe algorithms that can help protect you today and into the future.
Thales has been preparing for this moment, working closely with NIST and other organisations for over a decade and has crypto agile Quantum-safe High Speed Encryptors and Hardware Security Modules that are already available for you to start your Quantum journey now. Thales CPL also offer PQC starter kits for you to test and prepare for this transformation across your applications, devices and networks. Please contact Thales CPL Partner, UDS Data Systems Ltd, to apply the PQC (Post-Quantum Cryptography encryption) starter kit with Mr Alvin Ho ([email protected])
