Quantum Assessment & Readiness

The Quantum Readiness Toolkit, which is based on NIST 4 key principles, provides practical steps to help them assess their organization's Quantum Cyber Readiness.

Overview

Prepare Your Enterprise for the Post-Quantum Era

The future of digital security is here. As quantum computing rapidly advances, it presents an unprecedented challenge to the encryption methods that underpin our entire digital world. Your sensitive data, critical systems, and hard-earned digital trust are at risk. Traditional cryptography, once impenetrable, is now vulnerable to the immense power of future quantum attacks.

Risk Cognizance's Quantum Assessment & Readiness solution empowers your organization to proactively confront this emerging threat. We provide a comprehensive, integrated approach to identify your cryptographic vulnerabilities, navigate evolving compliance landscapes, and strategically transition to quantum-safe security. Don't wait for "Q-Day"—secure your enterprise's future today.

Why Quantum Readiness is Your Next Strategic Imperative

The threat of quantum computing is no longer theoretical; it's an accelerating reality that demands immediate attention from leadership, risk managers, and cybersecurity professionals. Organizations face significant, quantifiable risks, including:

The "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" Threat

Adversaries are actively engaging in sophisticated data harvesting operations, collecting vast quantities of currently encrypted information. Their strategic intent is to store this data indefinitely and decrypt it once quantum capabilities mature. This implies that even data considered secure today could be compromised years from now, impacting long-lived sensitive information such as intellectual property, patient records, and national security data.

Fundamental Encryption Breakdown

Widely used public-key algorithms like RSA and ECC—found in everything from secure web Browse (HTTPS) to digital signatures and authenticated communications—will become obsolete. This profound shift threatens the core pillars of digital trust: confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity.

Evolving Regulatory and Compliance Landscape

Governments and standard bodies, most notably NIST, are actively developing Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) standards. These initiatives signal forthcoming regulatory and compliance mandates for quantum-safe transitions, requiring organizations to demonstrate proactive measures and auditable readiness.

Our Quantum Assessment & Readiness solution helps you move beyond passive awareness to actionable, auditable readiness, safeguarding your enterprise's value and ensuring sustained digital trust.

Understanding the Quantum Threat: Vulnerable vs. Recommended Encryption

To effectively prepare for the post-quantum era, it's crucial to identify your current cryptographic vulnerabilities and understand the quantum-resistant alternatives being standardized globally. This knowledge forms the bedrock of a robust quantum cybersecurity strategy.

Here's a summary of encryption standards currently vulnerable to quantum computers and the recommended Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms, as guided by NIST:

Category	Encryption Standard	Vulnerability to Quantum Computers	Current Usage & Strategic Implications
Vulnerable (Public-Key / Asymmetric)	RSA	Highly vulnerable to Shor's Algorithm, which can efficiently factor large prime numbers, the mathematical basis of RSA's security. This allows an attacker to derive the private key from the public key.	Widely used for: - TLS/SSL (HTTPS) for secure web Browse - Digital certificates - Email encryption (e.g., PGP/GPG) - Secure boot - VPNs. Its compromise would break trust across the internet.
	ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography)	Highly vulnerable to Shor's Algorithm, which can efficiently solve the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem. While more efficient than RSA, its underlying mathematical problem is similarly susceptible.	Popular for: - TLS/SSL (especially for forward secrecy) - Digital signatures (ECDSA) - Cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin key pairs) - Mobile and IoT devices (due to efficiency). Its compromise threatens modern digital identity and transactions.
	DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm)	Vulnerable to quantum attacks via Shor's Algorithm as its security also relies on the difficulty of solving discrete logarithm problems.	Used for: - Digital signatures. Its compromise allows forgeries and loss of authentication.
	Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange	Vulnerable to Shor's Algorithm. Its security relies on the difficulty of the discrete logarithm problem, which can be efficiently solved by a quantum computer to derive shared secret keys.	Critical for: - Secure key exchange in TLS/SSL, VPNs - Establishing secure communication channels. Its compromise means encrypted communications could be retroactively decrypted.
Generally Resistant (Symmetric)	AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)	Generally considered resistant to quantum attacks. While Grover's Algorithm can theoretically speed up brute-force attacks by a quadratic factor (halving the effective key strength), doubling the key length (e.g., from AES-128 to AES-256) provides sufficient protection for the foreseeable future.	Widely used for: - Encrypting data at rest (e.g., hard drives, cloud storage) - Encrypting data in transit (after a key is established) - Most bulk data encryption. While more robust, careful key management and sufficient key lengths (e.g., AES-256) remain crucial.
Recommended (Post-Quantum Cryptography - PQC)	ML-KEM (formerly CRYSTALS-Kyber)	Designed to be secure against both classical and quantum attacks. Based on lattice problems, which are believed to be hard for quantum computers.	NIST's primary standard for general encryption and key exchange (Key Encapsulation Mechanisms - KEMs). Recommended for securing TLS, VPNs, and other protocols requiring secure key establishment.
	HQC (Hamming Quasi-Cyclic)	Designed to be secure against both classical and quantum attacks. Based on code-based cryptography, offering a diverse mathematical foundation as a backup to lattice-based schemes.	NIST's selected backup algorithm for key encapsulation/exchange. Provides cryptographic diversity in case unforeseen weaknesses are found in other PQC candidates.
	ML-DSA (formerly CRYSTALS-Dilithium)	Designed to be secure against both classical and quantum attacks. Based on lattice problems.	NIST's primary standard for general-purpose digital signatures. Recommended for digital certificates, software updates, and authentication.
	SLH-DSA (formerly SPHINCS+)	Designed to be secure against both classical and quantum attacks. A stateless hash-based digital signature algorithm, offering a distinct mathematical foundation from lattice-based methods.	NIST's selected backup algorithm for digital signatures. Valued for its strong security proofs and different mathematical basis, providing an alternative to lattice-based signatures.
	FN-DSA (FALCON)	Designed to be secure against both classical and quantum attacks. Another lattice-based digital signature algorithm using the Fast-Fourier Transform.	Expected to be standardized by NIST as another option for digital signatures. Offers a balance of security and performance characteristics.

Key Capabilities of Our Quantum Assessment & Readiness Solution

Powered by Risk Cognizance's Integrated Connected GRC Software, our solution offers a structured, intelligent, and automated pathway to comprehensive quantum cybersecurity:

1. Comprehensive Cryptographic Inventory & Quantum Risk Analysis:

Automated Discovery: Automatically map all cryptographic assets and their usage across your organization.
Vulnerability Assessment: Identify vulnerable algorithms (like RSA and ECC) and assess their lifespan against quantum threats.
Prioritized Risk Profile: Highlight high-value assets requiring long-term protection from quantum threats, creating a detailed risk profile.
Enabled by: Risk Cognizance's IT & Cyber Risk Management Software and Enterprise Risk Management Software.

2. Strategic Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Migration Roadmap:

Compatibility Testing: Test systems for compatibility with new PQC algorithms (e.g., ML-KEM, ML-DSA).
Crypto-Agility Gaps: Identify software and hardware dependencies that lack "crypto-agility."
Phased Transition Plan: Develop a clear, actionable roadmap for migrating to NIST-approved PQC standards.
Enabled by: Our Regulatory Compliance Management Software, Regulatory Change Management Software, and Policy Management Software.

3. Secure Infrastructure Adaptation & Workforce Empowerment:

Platform Evaluation: Assess cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), IoT devices, and embedded systems for quantum-safe readiness.
Upgrade Roadmap: Plan necessary upgrades to digital infrastructure to support PQC algorithms.
Skill Development Insights: Identify critical training needs for your cybersecurity and IT teams.
Enabled by: Risk Cognizance's IT & Cyber Compliance Management Software and Cyber Hybrid GRC Software.

4. Continuous Monitoring, Third-Party Vigilance & Audit Assurance:

Real-time Oversight: Maintain continuous visibility into your PQC implementation and cryptographic health.
Supply Chain Readiness: Assess and monitor the quantum readiness of your third-party vendors and supply chain.
Seamless Audits: Facilitate efficient, transparent audits of your quantum readiness program.
Enabled by: Our Vendor Risk Management Software, Case and Incident Management Software, and Internal Audit Management Software.

Your Journey to Quantum Resilience: The Maturity Model

Your path to comprehensive quantum readiness follows a clear progression. Our solution guides your organization through these five essential maturity levels:

Initial Awareness: Recognizing the quantum threat and its broad implications.
Basic Assessment: Beginning to inventory cryptographic assets and understand immediate exposures.
Hybrid Deployment: Piloting the implementation of PQC alongside classical cryptography in controlled environments.
Advanced Implementation: Achieving broad deployment of PQC and integrated quantum-safe controls across key systems.
Full Quantum Resilience: Establishing comprehensive, verifiable protection against quantum threats across the entire enterprise.

Risk Cognizance is committed to empowering your organization to reach Level 5, ensuring complete and enduring protection against the quantum future.

Why Choose Risk Cognizance for Quantum Readiness?

Navigating the complexities of quantum cybersecurity requires a partner with deep expertise and an integrated, intelligent GRC platform. Risk Cognizance offers:

Unified Visibility: Our Integrated Connected GRC Software provides a single source of truth for all your quantum-related risks, compliance, and readiness efforts, eliminating silos.
Automation & Efficiency: Streamline complex assessment, planning, and implementation tasks, freeing up valuable resources and accelerating your readiness journey.
Proactive Protection: Identify vulnerabilities and implement quantum-safe measures before they become critical breaches, safeguarding your data from future attacks.
Seamless Compliance: Stay ahead of evolving PQC standards and regulatory mandates, ensuring continuous adherence and minimizing future non-compliance risks.
Proven Adaptability: While focused on quantum, our platform's robust capabilities are built on a strong foundation of managing complex GRC challenges across various industries, demonstrating its adaptability and reliability for this next-generation threat.

Secure Your Digital Future. Start Your Quantum Readiness Journey Today.

The quantum era is arriving. The time to assess your vulnerabilities and plan your migration to quantum-safe encryption is now. Don't leave your most critical data and systems exposed.