Harvest Now, Decrypt Later: Adversaries are collecting encrypted data today to decrypt it once quantum computers are available. Sensitive long-lived data is already at risk.
Live Threat
Quantum Security Intelligence Platform
The quantum threat to cybersecurity is real — and the clock is ticking.
Quantum computers will render today's public-key cryptography obsolete. TrustWaveSecure's QuantumShield platform helps enterprises migrate to post-quantum cryptography before Q-Day arrives.
Understanding what changes when quantum computers reach cryptanalytic relevance.
Classical computers — safe today
RSA-2048 takes 300 trillion years to factor
Cannot run Shor's algorithm efficiently
AES-256 remains practically unbreakable
No threat to elliptic-curve cryptography today
Quantum computers — future threat
RSA-2048 broken in hours via Shor's algorithm
All public-key cryptography (RSA, ECDH, DSA) broken
Grover's algo halves AES effective key length
TLS, VPNs, PKI, digital signatures all vulnerable
Defence Strategies
Quantum-Safe Solutions
A layered approach combining post-quantum cryptography, quantum key distribution, and governance frameworks.
ML-KEM (Kyber) — Key Encapsulation
NIST FIPS 203 standard. Lattice-based algorithm replacing RSA and ECDH for secure key exchange. Resistant to both classical and quantum attacks. Recommended for TLS, VPNs, and SSH.
ML-DSA (Dilithium) — Digital Signatures
NIST FIPS 204. Module lattice-based digital signature scheme replacing ECDSA. Used for code signing, TLS certificates, firmware signing, and identity authentication.
SLH-DSA (SPHINCS+) — Hash-Based Signatures
NIST FIPS 205. Stateless hash-based signatures with conservative security assumptions. Ideal for high-assurance environments like PKI root certificates and long-lived signing keys.
Crypto Agility Frameworks
Design systems to swap cryptographic primitives without re-architecture. Critical for long-lived infrastructure that must outlast any single algorithm's security lifecycle.
BB84 Protocol — Quantum Key Distribution
Uses photon polarisation states to transmit keys. Any eavesdropping is physically detectable — guaranteed by the laws of quantum mechanics. The foundation of secure quantum networks.
Quantum Networks & Entanglement
Dedicated fibre or satellite links for transmitting quantum keys. China's Micius satellite demonstrated 1,200 km QKD in 2017. Commercial metro QKD networks exist in Tokyo, Geneva, and Beijing.
Quantum Repeaters
Extend QKD range beyond the ~100 km fibre loss limit using quantum entanglement relays. Commercial quantum repeater solutions are expected 2026–2030, enabling national and global QKD networks.
Hybrid TLS Handshakes
Combine classical ECDH with Kyber in TLS 1.3. If either algorithm is broken, the session remains secure. Recommended by NCSC (UK), BSI (Germany), and NIST for the transition period.
Dual-Algorithm Certificates
PKI certificates carrying both classical (RSA/ECDSA) and PQC (ML-DSA) signatures simultaneously. Backwards compatible with legacy infrastructure during the multi-year migration window.
Phased Migration Programme
Inventory cryptographic assets → classify by risk and data lifetime → deploy hybrid systems → full PQC. TrustWaveSecure delivers this as a 3–7 year managed migration engagement.
Cryptographic Asset Inventory
Discover every algorithm, key, certificate, and protocol in use across your estate. Automated tools like Cryptosense, Keyfactor, and AppViewX scan codebases, libraries, and network traffic.
Migration Roadmap & Regulatory Alignment
NIST SP 1800-38 and NSA CNSA 2.0 suite mandates. EU NIS2, US FISMA, FCA, and SEC are moving toward mandatory PQC readiness. Financial sector deadlines expected 2026–2028.
Board-Level Quantum Risk Reporting
Translate quantum risk into business language for CISOs, boards, and audit committees. We provide quantum risk scoring, peer benchmarking, and executive dashboards aligned to DORA and ISO 27001.
Quantum Roadmap
The Race to Q-Day
Key milestones from the launch of the NIST PQC competition to the estimated arrival of cryptanalytically-relevant quantum computers.
NIST invited global academic and industry submissions for quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms to eventually replace RSA and elliptic-curve cryptography.
Completed
2019
Google Achieves Quantum Supremacy
Google's 53-qubit Sycamore processor completed a task in 200 seconds that would take classical supercomputers 10,000 years, marking a landmark in quantum hardware progress.
Completed
2022
IBM Unveils 433-Qubit Osprey Processor
IBM's roadmap targets 100,000+ qubits by 2033. Error correction advances accelerated significantly, bringing fault-tolerant quantum computing closer to reality.
Completed
2024
NIST Finalises PQC Standards (FIPS 203, 204, 205)
ML-KEM (Kyber), ML-DSA (Dilithium), and SLH-DSA (SPHINCS+) published as official FIPS standards. Organisations should begin migration planning and inventory immediately.
Completed — action required now
2026–2028
Enterprise PQC Adoption Wave
Major cloud providers, browser vendors, and OS platforms deploy PQC by default. Hybrid TLS and dual-algorithm PKI become industry standard. Regulatory deadlines enforced in financial services.
Upcoming
2030–2035
Q-Day Risk Window — Critical Migration Deadline
Cryptanalytically-relevant quantum computers (CRQC) may emerge. All RSA, ECDH, ECDSA, and DH systems must be fully migrated before this window. Data encrypted today is already being harvested.
⚠ Critical deadline — start migration now
Vulnerability Assessment
Which Systems Are Most at Risk?
Quantum vulnerability scores for common cryptographic systems and protocols — higher means more urgent action required.
Critical (>80%)
High (50–80%)
Low (<50%)
Technology Fundamentals
How Quantum Computers Break Encryption
Understanding the algorithms that make quantum computers dangerous — and the defences that counter them.
01
Shor's Algorithm
Factors large integers and solves the discrete logarithm problem exponentially faster than any classical computer. Directly breaks RSA, DSA, ECDH, and ECDSA — every major public-key system in use today.
Public-key threat
02
Grover's Algorithm
Provides a quadratic speedup for searching unstructured databases. Effectively halves the bit-security of symmetric keys — AES-128 becomes equivalent to AES-64. Mitigation: upgrade to AES-256.
Symmetric threat
03
Harvest Now, Decrypt Later
Nation-state adversaries are collecting encrypted traffic today, storing it for future decryption once quantum computers arrive. Any data with >10 year sensitivity is already at risk from this active threat.
Immediate risk
04
Lattice Cryptography
The Learning With Errors (LWE) problem is believed to be hard for both classical and quantum computers. ML-KEM and ML-DSA are built on lattice mathematics — forming the bedrock of NIST PQC standards.
Quantum defence
Get Started
Is Your Organisation Quantum-Ready?
Most enterprises have 5–7 years before Q-Day. The migration takes 3–7 years. The time to start is now.