Picture this: a day when your encryption keys, once thought to be unbreakable, collapse like a house of cards. This is the unsettling reality that quantum computing could unleash, dramatically reshaping the world of cybersecurity.
But don’t worry, because you can be ready long before that happens—and NIST already started paving the way earlier this year when they released the first 3 post-quantum cryptographic standards (FIPS 203, 204 and 205).
To back up those standards, they've also announced 14 promising digital signature candidates that will be moving forward to the next round in their Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Project.
What does this mean for you as you navigate all the rapid, newfangled advancements in quantum technology? We'll discuss the news from NIST first, as well as some expert perspectives recorded during Machine Identity Security Summit 2024, held Oct. 1-3 in Boston.
The challenges of quantum-threat preparedness
The cyber realm is constantly evolving, but the rise of quantum computing brings awhole new set of challenges. Traditional encryption methods like RSA and ECC areat risk of becoming obsolete, as quantum algorithms could soon crack them, unraveling our world’s otherwise secure digital foundations.
The stakes have never been higher, and organizations need to take action now to prepare for a post-quantum world. Enter NIST's recent selection of 14 digital signature algorithms, including CROSS, FAEST, HAWK, LESS, MAYO, Mirath (merger of MIRA/MiRitH), MQOM, PERK, QR-UOV, RYDE, SDitH, SNOVA, SQIsign and UOV.
You can learn more about the list here, and you can expect the second phase of evaluation to take 12-18 months, according to NIST.
This is a crucial milestone in our journey to establish strong cryptography standards that can withstand quantum attacks. The selection process is no walk in the park; it involves a rigorous evaluation focusing on security, performance, and implementation feasibility. This triad ensures that only the toughest contenders make the cut.
Expert insights and real-world implications
Kevin Bocek, Chief Innovation Officer at Venafi, emphasizes the strategic necessity of quantum preparedness: "While quantum computing may still be on the horizon, it must be a key part of a company's risk management strategy. Safeguarding machine identities and ensuring software is quantum-proof will be crucial."
But doing so isn’t so easy, at least according to Colin Soutar, MD of Risk & Financial Advisory at Deloitte & Touche LLP, because we don’t actually know when a powerful enough quantum computer will arrive.
“Therein lies the crux of the challenge with this particular issue, in terms of getting it on the radars of business professionals and IT specialists.” Without that clear timeline, it can be harder for teams to prioritize the migration. But Soutar still emphasizes that we should. In fact, at the Machine Identity Security Summit in October, he said, that it’s better to start now, as the “scale of this threat cannot be underestimated.”
This need to start now was also echoed by Carl Mehner, Security Business Architect at USAA, stating that businesses need to gain a comprehensive understanding of where “every single cryptographic asset” is, be aware of the hybrid or post-quantum options available to them and begin to lay the groundwork to automate.
Future-proof your business with quantum-ready solutions from Venafi
Addressing industry challenges with Venafi’s unique solutions
These expert insights align perfectly with NIST and ETSI recommendations for quantum readiness—and implementing them starts with securing your machine identities.
They’re the foundation of your enterprise security, and to take charge of your quantum migration, you must first gain control over every machine identity across your enterprise’s extended enterprise networks.
1. Equip your team with visibility and automation
Gaining comprehensive visibility and automating machine identity lifecycles is crucial for building a solid defense against quantum threats. By implementing enterprise-wide machine identity security, you can confidently oversee your cryptographic assets and protect them with ease.
How Venafi supports your PQC readiness: The industry-preferred Venafi Control Plane for Machine Identities offers the essential visibility and automation needed to prepare for the challenges of quantum computing—and TLS Protect and CodeSign Protect now support NIST’s approved cryptographic algorithms. You can learn more about our PQC capabilities here.
2. Boost crypto-agility and CA-agility
Crypto-agility isn't just a buzzword. It’s a necessity, and the right machine identity security platform can facilitate swift transitions from traditional encryption to quantum-resistant cryptography.
But crypto-agility isn’t just about PQC. Shortening certificate lifespans and CA distrust events make it a crucial facet of your machine identity security strategy today.
How Venafi supports your PQC readiness: Venafi’s CA-agnostic platform provides crypto-agility and CA-agility, supports hybrid certificates and empowers you to test quantum-resistant PKI solutions—today.
3. Find a partner to help smooth your PQC migration
Making the switch to post-quantum cryptography can feel daunting, but you don’t have to go it alone. Partnering with experts who understand the intricacies of this transition is invaluable.
While NIST has laid out an industry framework, the real challenge lies in effectively implementing them within various IT ecosystems—and in ways that work for your specific enterprise.
How Venafi supports your PQC readiness: Our experienced team can help you navigate this transformation every step of the way, ensuring a seamless migration and setting you up for success.
The road to quantum resilience may feel long, but it’s brimming with exciting opportunities.
We’re all on the brink of a thrilling new era, one where adaptability and foresight will determine success. By taking proactive steps now, you can safeguard your organization’s interests and also emerge as pioneers moving forward.
Rely on Venafi, a CyberArk company, for quantum-ready solutions
Learn more about how Venafi can help future-proof your business from quantum computing threats on our solutions page. Or, if you’d like to learn more about the current lay of the land in quantum, check out the eBook linked below.
