Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC): Everything You Need to Know to Future-Proof Data Security

The cybersecurity industry may be underestimating a looming threat: while 62% of industry leaders believe quantum computing will “break” today’s encryption standards, just 5% are actively working to prepare their systems for a post-quantum world.¹

That disconnect reveals significant confusion around post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The urgency of PQC adoption is clear: the Department of War (DoW) requires all new software and firmware to support PQC, with full default adherence across all systems mandated by 2035.² Yet many leaders are unsure exactly what to do today.

Read on to learn: 

• What post-quantum cryptography is and how it works
• Why organizations are struggling to deploy quantum-resistant security
• How your organization can accelerate the transition to post-quantum cryptography
  

PQC 101: Understanding Post-Quantum Cryptography

Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is a robust defense system against quantum computer-driven cyberattacks. While quantum computers can theoretically break existing cryptographic keys, PQC uses mathematical problems that are too complex for even highly advanced systems to solve.

It will become the standard for all cryptography within the next decade; NIST currently recommends that all existing encryption systems be replaced with PQC methods by 2035.³ But to see why this is so urgent, we need to understand the scale of the threat quantum computers present.

Why Quantum Computing Will Break Traditional Cybersecurity

Almost all existing cryptographic systems were built to exploit the limitations of classical computers. They use mathematical problems, such as factoring prime numbers, that would require an unthinkable level of binary computing power to solve. 

These are known as “trapdoor” functions: simple to solve one way, but near-impossible to solve in reverse. The entire digital ecosystem relies on this asymmetry: you can quickly set up a cryptographic code and feel confident it won’t be cracked.

But what happens when the limitations of classical computing no longer apply?

Quantum computers use qubits: through a phenomenon called superposition, they can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This dramatically increases the volume of data the computer can efficiently process; problems that were once functionally impossible become, at least in theory, highly solvable. 

MIT professor Peter Shor raised the alarm in 1994, publishing an algorithm (known as Shor’s Algorithm) that could efficiently solve the problems that digital cryptography was built around. Security keys, text encryption, and user authentication; all of it could be broken with a sufficiently powerful quantum computer.

That risk sounded somewhat far-fetched in the mid-nineties, but quantum computing has progressed significantly since then. While estimates vary, one-third of experts believe existing cryptography systems will be obsolete before 2032,⁴ and many believe it will be much sooner.

Even if these projections turn out to overestimate the speed with which quantum computers will be widely available, the threat is still immediate. Because while quantum computers may be several years from full deployment, criminals are already betting on the eventual arrival of these machines.

Why Post-Quantum Resilience is an Urgent Priority

Encryption currently serves as a last defense for sensitive data. Even if information is intercepted, criminals can’t access it, rendering it functionally useless. This makes the cost of stealing encrypted data prohibitive; why go to extreme lengths to access information that has no practical value?

The prospect of quantum computing changes that calculus. Sensitive data that is stolen today can simply be stored until quantum computers are ready to decrypt it. Plenty of sensitive data (think government secrets or financial information) will retain its value even if it takes a decade for quantum computing to become capable of solving existing cryptographic problems.

These are known as “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" (HNDL) attacks, and they are a major threat to any organization that stores or transmits sensitive information. But the question is: how can you protect yourself against these threats?

How to Prepare for Post-Quantum Cryptography

Deploying quantum-resistant solutions is crucial to maintain compliance and combat HNDL attacks. From financial services to government contracting, organizations without a clear path to PQC adoption will be at a serious competitive disadvantage in the coming years. However, the transition process has proven challenging for many organizations. 

Addressing the Barriers to PQE Adoption

A recent survey of IT and cybersecurity professionals found several significant barriers to PQC adoption, but most challenges boil down to two core factors:

1. Legacy System Limitations

Most existing security infrastructure cannot handle the technical demands of quantum-resistant solutions. PQC algorithms require larger key sizes and far more RAM, which may cause older systems to crash or degrade.

But a total overhaul of legacy systems is impractical: the scale and complexity of existing digital ecosystems would make “rip-and-replace” programs highly risky and prohibitively expensive. Organizations must therefore manage a gradual transition to PQC; current estimates suggest it could take 10-15 years for new standards to be widely adopted.⁵

A gradual transition means new solutions will need to interoperate with existing security protocols. That adds an extra level of technical and logistical complexity, with two-thirds of IT and cybersecurity leaders claiming legacy systems and ensuring interoperability with existing protocols are key barriers to PQC adoption.⁶

2. Budget Restrictions

Surveys find that implementation costs are the primary barrier to PQC adoption for IT and cybersecurity leaders.⁷ The transition is already projected to cost federal agencies over $7 billion,⁸ a figure that doesn’t factor in national security systems to private sector companies. 

The problem is exacerbated by ongoing uncertainty: most organizations lack a comprehensive Cryptography Bill of Materials (CBOM) and do not know where their algorithms are embedded across weapons systems, business platforms, and IoT assets. Simply assessing these dependencies can be expensive and time-consuming. 

There are also significant human capital costs: nearly one-third of leaders cite a lack of skilled personnel as a primary barrier to adoption. That puts a premium on talent capable of delivering PQC, driving up staffing costs, and making it even harder to access the skills needed to ensure a smooth, safe, and effective PQC transition.

In summary: PQC adoption will be slow, painful, and unreliable unless leaders can reduce the technical and financial burden involved. However, solutions are finally emerging that make that possible, and promise a faster, simpler, and more cost-effective transition to quantum-resistant security.

Deploy Post-Quantum Cryptography Without the Overhead

The Qanapi Encryption API offers the first all-in-one solution to integrate quantum-resistant encryption and fine-grained access control policies directly into the core of their applications. 

This API-first approach dramatically simplifies the security burden on development teams. Instead of wrestling with complex infrastructure configurations or sprawling security appliances, developers can implement robust Zero Trust principles with minimal overhead and faster time-to-market.

Want to accelerate PQC adoption and future-proof your data?

¹ _{https://www.isaca.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/2025/organizations-lack-a-quantum-computing-roadmap-isaca-finds}
² _{https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/pqc-migration-roadmap-unveiled}
³ _{https://pqshield.com/nist-recommends-timelines-for-transitioning-cryptographic-algorithms/}
⁴ _{https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/feds/files/2025093pap.pdf}
⁵ _{https://fintechmagazine.com/articles/moodys-fintech-industry-set-for-costly-encryption-overhaul}
⁶ _{https://wjarr.com/sites/default/files/WJARR-2024-1938.pdf}
⁷ _{https://wjarr.com/sites/default/files/WJARR-2024-1938.pdf}
⁸ _{https://www.boozallen.com/insights/velocity/from-the-frontlines-of-post-quantum-cryptography.html}