Technology
Build crypto-agility into cloud platforms, APIs, software signing, key management, and customer-facing dependencies.
Sector-readiness guidance — not an audit, certification, or deployment claim
Quantum-readiness priorities for Technology
Technology companies often embed cryptography in TLS, APIs, identity, cloud key management, secrets platforms, data stores, build pipelines, artifact signing, update channels, and customer integrations. A single product may inherit additional dependencies from libraries, infrastructure, and managed providers.
A useful inventory should trace algorithms and certificates to services, source and package dependencies, owners, environments, and customer-facing protocols. Readiness decisions also need to consider software-support periods, customer upgrade paths, backward compatibility, and the ability to replace cryptography without redesigning the product.
Controlled prototypes can measure message size, latency, resource use, interoperability, signing workflows, and operational impact. Results apply only to the tested implementation and environment; they are not a universal quantum-resistance claim.
Readiness priorities
Trace product dependencies
Map TLS, APIs, identities, key services, libraries, signing, build pipelines, updates, and managed platforms.
Design for crypto-agility
Assess replaceability, ownership, backward compatibility, support periods, and customer migration constraints.
Prototype with evidence
Test supported implementations for interoperability, performance, operations, rollout, and rollback in a defined environment.
Standards and limitations
These profiles use NIST's inventory, risk-prioritization, crypto-agility, and controlled-interoperability approach. The status of each reference is stated explicitly.
NIST FIPS 203, 204, and 205
Current standardized ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA algorithms; application and protocol support must still be verified.
NIST CSWP 39upd1 — Crypto Agility
Guidance for environment-specific cryptographic change while preserving security and ongoing operations.
NIST IR 8547 — PQC Transition
Draft transition context, presented separately from final standards and implementation requirements.
These are sector-readiness profiles, not audits, certifications, threat guarantees, or evidence of completed deployments. Findings and migration choices depend on each organization's systems, data, vendors, protocols, and operating environment.
Standards and guidance last reviewed: 5 August 2026.