NIST selects four encryption algorithms designed to withstand future quantum computing hacking threats and underpin its future cryptography standards by 2024
The program later moved from selection to deployment: NIST ultimately published its first three post-quantum cryptography standards in 2024. That progression makes the 2022 choices the handoff point between algorithm research and standards-based adoption.
First-order effects
NIST can focus its standards work on the four selected algorithms, while cryptography vendors and organizations using public-key systems gain defined candidates to evaluate against existing implementations.
The selection establishes the technical baseline for protection against the quantum-hacking threat identified by NIST, rather than leaving adopters to choose among a broader field of competing proposals.
Second-order effects
Suppliers of encryption software, hardware, and key-management systems face pressure to test interoperability and migration paths around NIST’s chosen algorithms as the standards process advances.
The competitive focus shifts from proposing replacement algorithms to delivering implementations that meet the emerging NIST standards, a transition reflected in the later move toward publishing three algorithms for quantum-resistant protection.
Third-order effects
If NIST’s standards become the shared migration reference, post-quantum readiness will be determined increasingly by an organization’s ability to replace deployed cryptography, not by the availability of candidate algorithms.
The pattern points to quantum security becoming a standards-and-implementation cycle: algorithm selection first, followed by formal publication and adoption across the cryptographic supply chain.
The trend: Post-quantum cryptography is moving from an open competition for algorithms toward standardized migration of existing public-key security systems.
As we prepare for the possible assault of a future quantum computer, NIST has chosen the first group of tools for our post-quantum cryptographic standard: 🔒 CRYSTALS-Kyber 🔒 CRYSTALS-Dilithium 🔒 FALCON 🔒 Sphincs+ Learn more: https://www.nist.gov/... https://twitter.com/...
🌐@CISAgov and @DHSgov are working with @NIST to prepare for the launch of a new cryptographic standard to protect against future quantum-based threats. Learn more about this effort and read https://www.cisa.gov/... #Cryptograpy #Cybersecurity #IT #Quantum #Technology
The final four algorithms will be announced at a later date, with NIST saying they are splitting the selections up due to a “need for a robust variety of defense tools.”
NIST announces winners of first four quantum resistant cryptographic algorithms, the culmination of a six-year search to defend cryptography against quantum computing. https://www.nist.gov/...
Don't sleep on this NIST process, folks. These algorithms will help protect your sensitive data from hackers if/when quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption arrive on the scene. https://twitter.com/...
🎉Today is a remarkable day for @QANplatform #NIST recommends CRYSTALS-Dilithium as the primary algorithm for quantum-resistant signatures - the one #QANplatform has chosen before and is using through QAN XLINK. https://www.nist.gov/... $QANX #QuantumBlockchain
NIST also issues a new call for proposals for Digital Signature Algorithms with Short Signatures and Fast Verification to diversify their signature portfolio. Submissions in response to that call will be due by June 1, 2023 https://csrc.nist.gov/...
Did you know that @zooko and @feministPLT are among the authors of SPHINCS hash-based post-quantum signature scheme? Its successor SPHINCS+ is set to become a national standard! https://csrc.nist.gov/... @zcash puts crypto in cryptocurrency.