Post-quantum cryptography adoption and the national security implications

Quantum computers have advanced significantly in capability and compute power in the last several years and are turning theoretical vulnerabilities in modern cryptography into real-world threats. The shift to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) needs to start now, but several challenges need to be overcome. One is: How do you convince people of the urgency that this not-quite-ready new technology represents?

I will argue that this technology will favor the nation-state actors over cyber criminals and ransomware gangs and therefore make it harder to convince those that aren’t already a target of nation-states of the threat. This dynamic will create gaps that governments can exploit either covertly, as part of an open conflict or through state-sponsored economic espionage.