Post-quantum cryptography
Protecting today's data from tomorrow's quantum computers.
A large quantum computer could break the public-key cryptography (RSA, elliptic-curve) that secures the internet. Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) replaces those algorithms with ones believed to resist quantum attack — a change every organization will eventually make, and the most near-term commercial angle of the whole field.
In plain terms
It's like upgrading every lock in the world before a master key is invented. The master key (a quantum computer) doesn't exist yet — but data stolen today can be stored and unlocked later, so the upgrade has to start now.
How it works
Quantum algorithms (Shor's) can factor large numbers and crack elliptic-curve keys, undermining most of today's public-key crypto.
PQC uses maths (lattices, hashes, codes) with no known efficient quantum attack. Standards bodies like NIST have selected the first algorithms for adoption.
The real threat is 'harvest now, decrypt later' — adversaries collecting encrypted data today to decrypt once quantum computers arrive — which is why migration is urgent even before the hardware exists.
The problem it solves
Every bank, government and enterprise must migrate cryptography before quantum computers mature. Vendors help discover vulnerable systems and roll out quantum-safe keys and protocols.
- +Addresses a near-term, hardware-independent threat — revenue today.
- +Software-delivered, high-margin, huge addressable market.
- –Long enterprise sales and migration cycles.
- –Competes with free standardized NIST algorithms.
Companies building this
Delivers symmetric quantum-safe keys as a cloud service to telecoms and defence.
Helps enterprises inventory and migrate cryptography to quantum-safe standards at scale.