Ep. 288 Is Federal Data Ready for the Post-Quantum Era?

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/

Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com

In the world of federal technology we are being deluged with so much information about Artificial Intelligence that we may not see what some of other technologies that may have as great an impact as AI.

The White House, the OMB (M-23-02), the Office of the National Cyber Director have made it clear that the time to prepare for post-quantum cryptography is now. Agencies are required to inventory cryptographic systems, prioritize high-value assets, and build migration plans in line with NIST standards.

Today, we sit down with Eric Hay from Quantum Xchange to look at making this transition. During the interview, Hay handles issues like technology, operations and appropriate strategy.

He highlights the role of NIST in developing and approving new algorithms like NIST PQC Post Quantum Encryption, ML, and CHEM.

Eric explains the five-step process for transitioning to these new standards: discovery, prioritization, deployment, monitoring, and management.

Rather than spending time evaluating algorithms, Eric Hay stresses the importance of a network-centric approach, suggesting that agencies focus on securing data transport first.

Eric predicts Q day, when current encryption methods could be compromised, within 3-5 years, with some European partners aiming for 2029.