This article discusses the development of **post-quantum cryptography** standards by the **National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)** to protect data from future quantum computers. These new encryption algorithms are designed to be resistant to attacks from powerful quantum machines, which could break current encryption methods like asymmetric encryption used in online transactions. NIST has been working on this since 2015, and after reviewing over 69 initial proposals, they have narrowed it down to eight final candidates. The first set of quantum-resistant encryption standards is expected to be announced soon, with the process continuing for many years to ensure a strong and evolving set of security tools.
The **current status** of the standard is that it is **under review**, with the first set of algorithms expected to be finalized and implemented in the near future. The **potential impact** is significant, as these new standards will help protect sensitive data, including national security information, from being decrypted by future quantum computers. Organizations are encouraged to start preparing now by identifying their most valuable data and planning for upgrades. The **implementation timeframe** is expected to be over the next few years, with tech providers ready to adopt the new standards once they are available. The key technical point is that these new algorithms are designed to work on current binary computers while being secure against quantum attacks.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/post-quantum-cryptography-qa-nists-matt-scholl
Keywords: quantum encryption, quantum-resistant algorithms, store-and-break threat
