Inhaltsverzeichnis

3.1 What is Post-Quantum Cryptography?

Protection against future quantum computer attacks.

The Problem

Today's encryption (RSA1)), ECC2)) is based on mathematical problems that are hard to solve for normal computers. Quantum computers3) could solve these problems in minutes instead of millennia - using Shor's Algorithm4).

The Threat

„Harvest Now, Decrypt Later“5)

Attackers collect encrypted data today and wait for powerful quantum computers to decrypt it later.

Affects:

The Solution

Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)6)

New encryption methods that even quantum computers cannot break. These are based on different mathematical problems:

Timeline

Year Event
2024 NIST Standards10) published
2025 EU Roadmap11) and first implementations
2030 EU deadline for critical infrastructure (NIS212))
2035 NIST deprecates classical algorithms13)

WvdS PQ-Crypto Library

EMSR DATA provides a ready-to-use .NET library for Post-Quantum Cryptography:

Sources

1)
RSA Algorithm: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA_(cryptosystem
2)
Elliptic Curve Cryptography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptic-curve_cryptography
3)
Quantum Computing Fundamentals: https://www.ibm.com/topics/quantum-computing
4)
Shor's Algorithm: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shor%27s_algorithm
5)
ENISA: Post-Quantum Cryptography - Current State: https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications/post-quantum-cryptography-current-state-and-quantum-mitigation
6)
NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography: https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/post-quantum-cryptography
7)
FIPS 203 (ML-KEM): https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/FIPS/NIST.FIPS.203.pdf
8)
FIPS 204 (ML-DSA): https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/FIPS/NIST.FIPS.204.pdf
9)
FIPS 205 (SLH-DSA): https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/FIPS/NIST.FIPS.205.pdf
10)
NIST PQC Standards: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2024/08/nist-releases-first-3-finalized-post-quantum-encryption-standards
11)
EU PQC Recommendation: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/recommendation-coordinated-implementation-plan-transition-post-quantum-cryptography
12)
NIS2 Directive: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2555/oj
13)
NIST: Transition to PQC: https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography/post-quantum-cryptography-standardization