Post-quantum cryptography readiness: what security teams need first

TL;DR: PQC readiness starts with cryptographic inventory, risk ranking, migration testing and crypto-agility, according to Fortanix, because many organisations still cannot map where RSA, ECDSA and ECDH are used or how long migration will take. Quantum resilience is now a governance problem, not just an algorithm choice.

Editorial analysis by NHI Mgmt Group, based on content published by Fortanix: “A Guide to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Readiness”.

Key questions

Q: How should teams prioritise data for post-quantum cryptography migration?

A: Prioritise data by confidentiality lifetime, replaceability, and exposure spread.

Q: What breaks when crypto-agility is not built into key management?

A: Without crypto-agility, every algorithm change becomes an application rewrite or infrastructure replacement exercise.

Q: Why do certificates and keys create long-term quantum risk?

A: Because the data they protect often outlives the algorithm used to protect it.

Practitioner guidance

• Build a complete cryptographic inventory Scan cloud, on-premises, container and third-party environments for keys, certificates and cryptographic libraries.
• Apply quantum risk ranking to exposed assets Use data shelf life, migration time and regulatory pressure to prioritise which systems move first.
• Test hybrid migration paths in isolation Run pilots in a secure environment, measure handshake and memory impact, and document what breaks before changes reach customer-facing systems.

Bottom line: PQC readiness is really about knowing where cryptography lives, who owns it and how it depends on the rest of the environment.

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