Quantum-Safe Cryptography and Migration 

IBM Research has a long history in creating and implementing cryptography. As we prepare to enter an exciting era of quantum computing, we are again leading the foundational challenges to create the next generation of cryptography. We’ve been working with the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for years to design new generations of public key cryptography; all four algorithms from this partnership were selected to be standardized by NIST. We understood what it takes to migrate some of our key platforms to become quantum-safe and have been working with key clients to help them on the same journey.

Quantum-safe cryptography (QSC) involves new complex mathematical problems, which can be implemented on normal computers and devices to replace classical cryptography. Migrating to the new cryptography algorithms will be a necessary step for organizations, products, and services to become quantum-safe.

Assessing where cryptography is being used today and prioritizing migration is a significant challenge. While there isn't a fully standardized set of algorithms for quantum-safe key exchange or digital signatures, the threat of quantum computing to asymmetric cryptography is well recognized. It’s also instrumental to prepare organizations now for a full transition to QSC as soon as possible. Actions need to be put in place to establish an inventory of crypto-algorithms currently in use, to ensure those that are vulnerable to quantum computing can readily be migrated.