Committee Impact Report on Post Quantum Cryptography

“The Engineer Who Cried Quantum“

The advent of quantum computing has been 40 years in the making. This long timeline has led many to put the cybersecurity impacts of cryptanalytically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs) on the backburner. However, as we approach the realization of this revolutionary technology, we cannot ignore the fact that CRQCs will inevitably render all currently deployed public key cryptography obsolete and weaken other fundamental cryptographic techniques such as symmetric key cryptography and hashing algorithms. Thus, it is imperative that we proactively plan and prepare for the transition to quantum-resistant cryptography. This report outlines the impact of this impending transition for the Communications Sector, focusing on the inherent challenges posed by the scale of deployments, the performance requirements of key protocols, and the international coordination required for any changes to protocol standards.