Starting your transition to PQC with a partial inventory could cause disruption later. We inventory all five pillars.
Quantum computing is a double-edged sword, holding the promise of immense computational power while also posing significant risks. One of its most concerning threats is the potential to break current cryptographic systems. While full-scale quantum computing may still be in the future, its looming impact is already a pressing concern.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is at the forefront of efforts to standardize post-quantum cryptographic algorithms. As these new standards are developed, organizations must stay informed and prepare to adopt them once they are finalized.
Transitioning to quantum-resistant cryptographic solutions is neither simple nor inexpensive. A major challenge is that many organizations have never maintained an inventory of their cryptographic systems, making the shift to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) even more daunting.
The first critical step in moving to PQC standards is identifying where your encryption currently resides within your infrastructure. A comprehensive understanding of these assets is essential to assess their vulnerability to quantum attacks and prioritize the transition to quantum-resistant alternatives.
The Five Pillars of Cryptographic Discovery & Inventory
There are five key areas where encryption must be discovered, analyzed, and inventoried:
- External Network: Understand what encryption is visible externally from your infrastructure.
- Internal Network: Identify internal encryption within your network and how it communicates.
- IT Assets: Recognize how endpoints, IoT devices, and servers use encryption and for what purposes.
- Databases: Pinpoint the location of databases and understand how they are encrypted.
- Code: Search for and inventory the encryption used within your code and code libraries.
It is crucial to inventory these five pillars as early and as continuously as possible before developing your roadmap for transitioning to PQC standards. Missing just one of these areas could lead to significant budget overruns and leave critical vulnerabilities in undiscovered systems.
Having a comprehensive inventory of quantum-vulnerable technology and the associated criticality of the data allows organizations to begin risk assessment processes and prioritize their migration to PQC. Our cryptographic inventory can:
- Help an organization become quantum-ready, mitigating the threat of a cryptographically relevant quantum computer (CRQC).
- Assist in preparing for a transition to a zero-trust architecture.
- Identify and correlate external access to datasets, which are more exposed and at higher risk.
- Inform future analysis by identifying which data may be targeted now and decrypted when a CRQC becomes available.
Conclusion
The transition to a quantum-secure future is complex but necessary. Cryptographic Discovery & Inventory for Quantum Risk is a foundational step in this process, enabling organizations to understand their cryptographic landscape, manage assets effectively, and transition to quantum-resistant solutions. By taking proactive measures today, organizations can safeguard their data and maintain trust in their security practices as quantum computing becomes a reality. Preparing for quantum risk is not just a technical necessity—it is a strategic imperative for the future of cybersecurity.
