Governments worldwide are issuing recommendations to address the threat that quantum computers pose to today’s communications infrastructure.
We are nearing the point where large-scale quantum computers will be capable of breaking classical cryptography.
The path forward is a transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) — algorithms designed to withstand quantum-enabled attacks. Preparing for this transition requires building cryptographic agility: the ability to replace or update cryptographic algorithms with minimal disruption to systems. In essence, cryptographic agility is not only good security practice — it is sound engineering.
Why Agility Is Essential
The need to migrate to PQC is urgent, but it is not the only reason organizations must prioritize agility. Traditional computing power continues to grow, and advances in cryptanalysis regularly render older algorithms insecure. Much of the cryptography designed in the 1990s has already been replaced with stronger alternatives. Just as we do not expect decades-old hardware to compete with modern technology, outdated cryptographic schemes must also be upgraded.
While complete breaks in well-established algorithms are rare, history shows that vulnerabilities often emerge from their implementation or usage. Side-channel attacks — such as timing exploits — have exposed weaknesses even in widely trusted libraries, leading to repeated updates to major cryptographic protocols. Cryptographic agility ensures that such updates can be implemented rapidly, reducing exposure and future-proofing systems.
Beyond Security: Efficiency and Compliance
Agility is also key to optimizing efficiency. The industry’s migration to elliptic curve cryptography over the past decades was driven largely by performance gains. PQC introduces a broad spectrum of algorithms, each with unique trade-offs in key size, signature size, and computational efficiency. As these algorithms are standardized, organizations will need the flexibility to transition between them — sometimes to enhance performance, other times to reduce cost.
Global compliance further reinforces the need for agility.
Cryptographic regulations vary across jurisdictions: the United States, Germany, South Korea, Russia, and China each recommend different algorithms. Even allied nations with close economic and political ties rarely align fully.
For businesses operating internationally, cryptographic agility enables interoperability, allowing a single product line to meet diverse requirements. Manufacturers can ship one crypto-agile product worldwide, enabling end users to provision region-specific algorithms without costly redesigns.
Future-Proofing Cryptographic Infrastructure
Ultimately, cryptographic agility empowers organizations to strengthen security, meet evolving regulatory demands, and adapt seamlessly to emerging threats and opportunities. As the industry prepares for a post-quantum future, agility is no longer optional — it is foundational.
Talk to us today to learn how our Cryptographic Agility Management Platform can help you embed agility into your products and future-proof your cryptographic infrastructure.
