PQC Deployment: Where to Start?
The challenges
The PQC migration journey is anything but straightforward
The transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) goes far beyond just replacing algorithms. It is a complex and long-term undertaking that will involve many stakeholders within the organization. Before beginning the rollout, there are many questions to consider:
How can we understand the real impact of PQC?
“We know PQC is coming, but what will it actually change for our systems?”
Consequences :
- Decisions based on assumptions rather than measurable data (performance, latency, compatibility)
- PQC projects stalled due to a lack of clear visibility into risks and costs
- Difficulty aligning teams and management, as PQC is still perceived as a theoretical topic.
How can we know where cryptography is actually being used?
“We don’t know exactly where cryptography is being used in our environment, nor which applications are actually exposed.”
Conséquences:
- Critical blind spots: undocumented cryptographic uses remain invisible
- Inability to prioritize which systems to migrate or protect first
- Risk of non-compliance and increased exposure to “store now, decrypt later” attacks
How can we avoid creating new cryptographic debt?
“We are concerned that if we deploy PQC today, we’ll have to start all over again tomorrow when standards evolve.”
Consequences:
- Creation of new technical debt due to rigid or poorly managed implementations
- Technological lock-in to cryptographic choices that are difficult to adapt
- Difficulty in demonstrating compliance
- High future costs when new standards or regulatory requirements emerge.
How to migrate without disrupting existing systems?
“We cannot afford to disrupt critical systems or legacy environments.”
Consequences:
- High operational risk (compatibility issues, system failures, service interruptions)
- Reluctance among IT and business teams, hindering the adoption of post-quantum cryptography
- Strategic delays in the transition to post-quantum security.
“NIST encourages IT system administrators to begin the transition to new post-quantum standards as soon as possible.”
Our Approach
Four steps to a successful PQC migration
The transition to post-quantum cryptography cannot be improvised. It requires a systematic approach, transparency and expertise. CryptoNext Security supports organisations at every stage of this migration project: from the initial assessment of the impacts of PQC to the ongoing management of cryptography through a crypto-agile approach. Four key steps to move from risk to resilience, without any operational disruption.
01
Evaluate: Measure the true impact
Before embarking on a large-scale migration project, it is essential to assess exactly what PQC entails for your systems. Our tools enable you to set up pilot projects to test the new algorithms against your specific use cases: latency, application compatibility, and critical dependencies.
This provides you with factual data to prioritize your actions, scale your efforts, and build a realistic roadmap, free from theoretical assumptions.
02
Discover: Make your cryptography visible
You can’t secure what you don’t know. The first requirement for a robust PQC strategy is a comprehensive inventory of the current environment: where is cryptography being used, with which algorithms, and within which data flows, applications, and components?
CryptoNext COMPASS helps identify every cryptographic asset in your environment, including hidden dependencies and third-party libraries. An accurate inventory is the essential foundation for any informed migration decision.
03
Remediate: Securely integrate PQC
Once the cryptography has been assessed, deployment can begin using CryptoNext Security’s Quantum-Safe Library, the first European post-quantum cryptographic library validated by NIST for the three standardized algorithms: ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA. With end-to-end control and portability across all types of environments, it guarantees data confidentiality, authenticity, and integrity.
A hybrid approach combining traditional and post-quantum cryptography can be adopted to maintain compatibility with current systems, while protecting your environments against the quantum threat.
04
Manage: Ensure crypto-agility over time
The transition to PQC also presents an opportunity to adopt a sustainable and agile approach to cryptography management. CryptoNext CAPTAIN addresses the goal of centralizing governance: defining and enforcing cryptographic policies, upgrading algorithms without rewriting applications, and monitoring compliance in real time.
This prevents the accumulation of cryptographic debt, staying aligned with emerging regulations, and maintaining full agility in the face of future changes to standards and threats.
Why CryptoNext Security?
CryptoNext: the reference partner for your post-quantum migration
First European post-quantum library validated by NIST
CryptoNext’s Quantum-Safe Library is the first European post-quantum library validated by NIST for the three standardized algorithms ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA, a guarantee of compliance and reliability today.
Comprehensive coverage of the PQC transition
From impact assessment to crypto-agile governance, CryptoNext Security supports every stage of the PQC migration. Our expertise and solutions enable a structured approach that facilitates a gradual transition without disrupting existing critical systems.
Over 20 PQC projects based on real-world use cases
With over 20 use cases evaluated and deployed at leading clients (banks, defense contractors, critical infrastructure operators), CryptoNext Security has built up unique hands-on expertise. Our proven methodology and concrete feedback allow you to save time, avoid pitfalls, and structure your migration methodically.
CryptoNextSecurity, a recognized leader in PQC
ABI Research, Bain Capital Ventures, Gartner, and IDC Innovators have recognized CryptoNext Security as a leading player in post-quantum cryptography. This reputation is built on 25 years of research and internationally recognized expertise, which guarantees that you are relying on the best in PQC.
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