22/04/2026
The race against quantum computing is no longer theoretical. National Institute of Standards and Technology has finalised its first post-quantum cryptography standards (FIPS 203, 204, 205), defining the algorithms that will replace today’s vulnerable encryption.
At the same time, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre is clear: organisations should already be preparing, starting with a full discovery of their cryptographic estate and a structured migration plan.
The real risk is not the arrival of quantum computers, but the data being collected today. “Harvest now, decrypt later” means sensitive information captured now can be broken in the future. That shifts this from a future IT problem to a present-day risk decision.
The hard part is not the algorithms. It is knowing where your cryptography is, what it protects, and how long that protection needs to last.
Start with inventory. Prioritise certificates, firmware signing, and long-lived data. Then move in phases.
Quantum-safe migration is not a switch. It is a programme. And it has already started.
Read more: https://waiforward.co.uk/blog/post/quantum-safe-migration-why-later-is-now-now-that-standards-are-final