What is post quantum cryptography?
Much of the world's digital infrastructure relies on public-key cryptography, from online banking and payments to government services, defence and national security systems, healthcare records, telecommunications networks, cloud services and software updates.
This information is secure today, but when quantum computers eventually become powerful enough, there is the potential for decryption.
If we think of today's encryption as a very strong lock that might take classical computers millions of years to pick, a future quantum computer could potentially open that lock much faster. Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is about installing a new generation of locks before the old ones become vulnerable, ensuring Australia's banks, hospitals, governments and businesses remain secure in the quantum era.
Resources on post quantum cryptography
We’ve developed three reports to help support a quantum safe transition.
Quantum Safe Transition: Reality, Hurdles and Pathways
This report explores why transitioning to post-quantum cryptography is a priority for Australia's digital future and how Australians can secure the future of digital infrastructure in the post-quantum era, this report highlights that the transition will be a complex, multi-year effort requiring early preparation, coordinated action and detailed system-level planning.
It provides practical insights to help financial institutions and payment operators begin identifying risks, prioritising critical services and building the governance and crypto-agility needed for a quantum-safe future.
Planning the Cyber Quantum-Safe Transition for Australia’s Financial Sector: a national use case
This national use case investigates how this transition can be achieved in practice. CSIRO researchers collaborated with stakeholders across Australia’s payments ecosystem for this project, which explores key challenges including identifying cryptographic assets, planning migration pathways, managing ecosystem dependencies, assessing vendor readiness, and implementing quantum-safe approaches for critical payment services.
The work provides practical insights to help organisations prepare for a secure transition to a post-quantum future.
Risks of Quantum Computing to Cybersecurity: a Responsible Innovation Approach
In this earlier work, we aimed to establish the foundation of ethical quantum capability in CSIRO. We aimed to contribute to advancing ethical guidance and governance standards in this field, and to developing new scientific techniques for addressing privacy and cybersecurity risks of emerging quantum technologies. It also improved awareness and facilitated development and deployment of post quantum cryptographic techniques.
We hope this effort will help ensure a responsible quantum future that generates positive socioeconomic impacts for generations to come.
What is post quantum cryptography?
Much of the world's digital infrastructure relies on public-key cryptography, from online banking and payments to government services, defence and national security systems, healthcare records, telecommunications networks, cloud services and software updates.
This information is secure today, but when quantum computers eventually become powerful enough, there is the potential for decryption.
If we think of today's encryption as a very strong lock that might take classical computers millions of years to pick, a future quantum computer could potentially open that lock much faster. Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is about installing a new generation of locks before the old ones become vulnerable, ensuring Australia's banks, hospitals, governments and businesses remain secure in the quantum era.
Resources on post quantum cryptography
We’ve developed three reports to help support a quantum safe transition.
Quantum Safe Transition: Reality, Hurdles and Pathways
This report explores why transitioning to post-quantum cryptography is a priority for Australia's digital future and how Australians can secure the future of digital infrastructure in the post-quantum era, this report highlights that the transition will be a complex, multi-year effort requiring early preparation, coordinated action and detailed system-level planning.
It provides practical insights to help financial institutions and payment operators begin identifying risks, prioritising critical services and building the governance and crypto-agility needed for a quantum-safe future.
Planning the Cyber Quantum-Safe Transition for Australia’s Financial Sector: a national use case
This national use case investigates how this transition can be achieved in practice. CSIRO researchers collaborated with stakeholders across Australia’s payments ecosystem for this project, which explores key challenges including identifying cryptographic assets, planning migration pathways, managing ecosystem dependencies, assessing vendor readiness, and implementing quantum-safe approaches for critical payment services.
The work provides practical insights to help organisations prepare for a secure transition to a post-quantum future.
Risks of Quantum Computing to Cybersecurity: a Responsible Innovation Approach
In this earlier work, we aimed to establish the foundation of ethical quantum capability in CSIRO. We aimed to contribute to advancing ethical guidance and governance standards in this field, and to developing new scientific techniques for addressing privacy and cybersecurity risks of emerging quantum technologies. It also improved awareness and facilitated development and deployment of post quantum cryptographic techniques.
We hope this effort will help ensure a responsible quantum future that generates positive socioeconomic impacts for generations to come.