Expert Recommendation: Get ready for PQC today February 26, 2026 Encryption/Data Protection Overview: Steal today, break in 10 years Digital evolution is unstoppable, and although the pace varies, sooner or later things tend to stick. Of course, that also applies to adversaries. The rise of ransomware and cyber extortion has created funding for a complex and highly specialized criminal ecosystem. The cloud era has made nearly limitless storage capacity commonly available. Therefore, there is literally nothing stopping criminals from stealing and trading large amounts of data, encrypted or not. The patient’s adversary is "Harvest now, decrypt later" (HNDL) Strategy. They secretly accumulate encrypted data with the intention of later decrypting it using quantum computers. Data that requires long-term security, such as trade secrets or sensitive designs, will inevitably have a longer lifetime than current encryption, making them more vulnerable. Therefore, it is important for organizations to begin planning their transition to PQC.

Expert Recommendation: Get ready for PQC today February 26, 2026 Encryption/Data Protection Overview: Steal today, break in 10 years Digital evolution is unstoppable, and although the pace varies, sooner or later things tend to stick. Of course, that also applies to adversaries. The rise of ransomware and cyber extortion has created funding for a complex and highly specialized criminal ecosystem. The cloud era has made nearly limitless storage capacity commonly available. Therefore, there is literally nothing stopping criminals from stealing and trading large amounts of data, encrypted or not. Patient attackers employ a “harvest now, decrypt later” (HNDL) strategy. They secretly accumulate encrypted data with the intention of later decrypting it using quantum computers. Data that requires long-term security, such as trade secrets or sensitive designs, will inevitably have a longer lifetime than current encryption, making them more vulnerable. Therefore, it is important for organizations to begin planning their transition to PQC.


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