Quantum ComputingCybersecurity
Quantum computers will render today's encryption obsolete. The data being stolen and stored today -- "harvest now, decrypt later" -- will be readable once cryptographically relevant quantum computers arrive. Petronella Technology Group helps organizations assess their quantum risk, build migration roadmaps, and implement post-quantum cryptography before NIST deadlines hit.
Why Quantum Computing Threatens Your Security Today
RSA-2048, the encryption algorithm protecting most internet traffic, bank transactions, and government communications, can be broken by a sufficiently powerful quantum computer running Shor's algorithm. While that computer does not exist today, the timeline is accelerating -- IBM, Google, and nation-state programs are making rapid progress, with most experts estimating cryptographically relevant quantum computers arriving between 2030 and 2035.
The urgent problem is not just future decryption. It is the "harvest now, decrypt later" (HNDL) attack strategy: adversaries -- particularly nation-state actors -- are capturing encrypted data today, storing it, and waiting for quantum computers to decrypt it. If your organization transmits data that needs to remain confidential for 10+ years (healthcare records, defense contracts, financial data, trade secrets), you are already at risk.
NIST finalized the first three post-quantum cryptography standards in August 2024: ML-KEM (FIPS 203), ML-DSA (FIPS 204), and SLH-DSA (FIPS 205). The federal government has mandated that agencies begin migrating to these standards, and compliance frameworks like CMMC and HIPAA will follow. The migration window is narrow -- organizations that wait will face compressed timelines and higher costs.
Quantum Readiness Services
End-to-end quantum risk assessment and post-quantum migration from assessment through implementation.
Quantum Readiness Assessment
We inventory every cryptographic algorithm in your environment -- TLS certificates, VPN tunnels, database encryption, code signing, authentication protocols -- and identify which are vulnerable to quantum attack. The assessment produces a prioritized migration roadmap based on data sensitivity and exposure timeline.
Post-Quantum Cryptography Migration
Hands-on migration of your systems to NIST-approved post-quantum algorithms (ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SLH-DSA). We handle certificate replacement, protocol upgrades, key management transitions, and compatibility testing to ensure zero disruption to operations.
Crypto-Agility Consulting
Design your systems so cryptographic algorithms can be swapped without rebuilding applications. Crypto-agility is the long-term solution -- it ensures you can respond to future algorithm changes (including potential weaknesses in current PQC standards) without emergency migrations.
Quantum-Safe Compliance Audit
Audit your compliance posture against emerging quantum-safety requirements from NIST, NSA (CNSA 2.0), and OMB. Defense contractors under CMMC and healthcare organizations under HIPAA will face quantum-specific requirements -- get ahead of the mandate.
Understand the Quantum Threat
Deep-dive resources for security teams and leadership.
Industry-Specific Quantum Risk
Different industries face different quantum timelines and regulatory pressures.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will quantum computers break current encryption?
Most cryptography researchers estimate 2030-2035 for a quantum computer capable of breaking RSA-2048 and ECC. However, the "harvest now, decrypt later" threat means data captured today is already at risk if it needs to remain confidential beyond that window. The NSA's CNSA 2.0 guidance recommends transitioning to PQC by 2030 for national security systems.
What are the NIST post-quantum cryptography standards?
NIST finalized three standards in August 2024: ML-KEM (FIPS 203, based on CRYSTALS-Kyber) for key encapsulation, ML-DSA (FIPS 204, based on CRYSTALS-Dilithium) for digital signatures, and SLH-DSA (FIPS 205, based on SPHINCS+) for hash-based signatures. A fourth standard, FN-DSA (based on FALCON), is expected in late 2024.
Do we need to worry about quantum threats if we are a small business?
If you handle data that needs to remain confidential for 10+ years (patient records, financial data, legal documents, trade secrets), yes. The HNDL threat applies regardless of organization size. Additionally, compliance frameworks will eventually require quantum-safe cryptography, and early movers will have an easier migration path.
How long does a quantum readiness assessment take?
For a typical mid-size organization, 2-4 weeks. The majority of time is spent inventorying cryptographic usage across your environment -- TLS configurations, VPN protocols, database encryption, certificate authorities, and custom applications. The output is a prioritized migration roadmap with timeline and budget estimates.
Related Services
Quantum Threats Do Not Wait
Start your quantum readiness assessment today. The data being stolen now will be decrypted when quantum computers arrive -- and the migration timeline is shorter than most organizations realize.