Federal Tech Podcast: Post Quantum Encryption: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Listen to the Federal Tech Podcast, hosted by John Gilroy, with guests Peter O’Donoghue and Richard Wheeler from Tyto Athene, discussing NIST, Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), and the future of federal agency security.
As quantum computing rapidly advances, the threat posed by a fault-tolerant quantum computer to existing cryptographic algorithms means that agencies need to start preparing today for tomorrow’s challenges. As a result, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the first three finalized post-quantum encryption standards, designed to safeguard data against emerging quantum threats. With these standards—FIPS 203, 204, and 205—organizations can test their ability to secure encryption and digital signatures against quantum-powered attack.
By the time these fault-tolerant quantum computers are operational, it will be too late to retrofit adequate security measures. Instead, to mitigate operational and security risks, organizations should adhere to a phased approach with the resources at hand: discovery, testing, validation, piloting, and deployment. Upgrading to achieve interoperability with legacy systems will necessitate a staged approach, aligned with budget cycles and the security level of the data involved.
To address the future of post-quantum resilience, consider partnering with a federal systems integrator like Tyto Athene to establish a Crypto Center of Excellence that manages cryptographic algorithms across the enterprise. Agencies must adopt a proactive approach, building an agile system with the ability to shift as future guidance and quantum-resistant algorithms evolve.
Listen to the podcast to hear Peter O’Donoghue and Richard Wheeler answer essential questions about PQC, what it means for the future of cybersecurity, and how Tyto Athene can help your organization prepare.