As an important strategic resource for safeguarding national information security and the healthy development of digital economy, cryptography is the cornerstone of protecting the security of critical infrastructure, government affairs data, financial transactions, and other fields. Currently, the rapid development of quantum computing poses a disruptive challenge to the existing public-key cryptosystems and a fatal threat to the global information security landscape, making research on post-quantum public-key cryptography (PQC) both necessary and urgent. This study expounds on the current development status of five mainstream technical routes in PQC: lattice-based, code-based, hash-based signature, multivariate, and isogeny-based cryptography, and finds that each of these five routes has its own focus yet is in a stage of continuous iteration and verification. The study identifies the existing issues of the development of PQC including performance bottlenecks, insufficient ecological compatibility, and difficulties in security evaluation. Meanwhile, the development of PQC in China is confronted with challenges such as a weak foundation in theoretical research, lagging standards formulation, an imperfect industrial ecosystem, and a shortage of professional talents. To safeguard China's information security in the quantum computing era, we propose the following suggestions: strengthening basic research to enhance the independent innovation capability of the industry; accelerating standards formulation to boost international discourse power; improving the industrial ecosystem to promote the phased migration to PQC; intensifying talent cultivation to build a professional talent team. These measures are expected to help China construct a multi-dimensional and highly resilient digital security ecosystem, and drive the leap-forward development of China's cyberspace security capability from classical to quantum security.
As an important strategic resource for safeguarding national information security and the healthy development of digital economy, cryptography is the cornerstone of protecting the security of critical infrastructure, government affairs data, financial transactions, and other fields. Currently, the rapid development of quantum computing poses a disruptive challenge to the existing public-key cryptosystems and a fatal threat to the global information security landscape, making research on post-quantum public-key cryptography (PQC) both necessary and urgent. This study expounds on the current development status of five mainstream technical routes in PQC: lattice-based, code-based, hash-based signature, multivariate, and isogeny-based cryptography, and finds that each of these five routes has its own focus yet is in a stage of continuous iteration and verification. The study identifies the existing issues of the development of PQC including performance bottlenecks, insufficient ecological compatibility, and difficulties in security evaluation. Meanwhile, the development of PQC in China is confronted with challenges such as a weak foundation in theoretical research, lagging standards formulation, an imperfect industrial ecosystem, and a shortage of professional talents. To safeguard China's information security in the quantum computing era, we propose the following suggestions: strengthening basic research to enhance the independent innovation capability of the industry; accelerating standards formulation to boost international discourse power; improving the industrial ecosystem to promote the phased migration to PQC; intensifying talent cultivation to build a professional talent team. These measures are expected to help China construct a multi-dimensional and highly resilient digital security ecosystem, and drive the leap-forward development of China's cyberspace security capability from classical to quantum security.
The advent of quantum computing poses a significant threat to current cryptographic systems, particularly public-key algorithms such as RSA and ECC, which are vulnerable to quantum attacks like Shor's algorithm. Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) aims to develop and standardize quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms to secure digital communications in the quantum era. This paper examines the current landscape of PQC, focusing on the evaluation and standardization efforts led by organizations such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). We analyze the major families of quantum-resistant algorithms, including lattice-based, hash-based, code-based, multivariate, and isogeny-based cryptography, discussing their security guarantees, performance trade-offs, and implementation challenges. Furthermore, we review NIST's PQC standardization process, highlighting selected finalists and alternate candidates, and explore the ongoing transition challenges in adopting these algorithms across industries. Finally, we discuss future directions for PQC research, including hybrid cryptographic systems and the need for continued cryptanalysis to ensure long-term security. This work provides a comprehensive overview of the progress and challenges in deploying quantum-resistant cryptography to safeguard against emerging quantum threats.
The looming threat of quantum attacks on the digital infrastructure protected by conventional cryptographic protocol has generated urgency in identifying and deploying countermeasures that can mitigate the threat. There is a need for stronger cryptographic schemes that combine the strengths of both classic and quantum technologies. Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) has emerged as a potential solution that can withstand the challenges posed by advances in quantum computing. Owing to the increasing importance of PQC, the present research is an attempt to assess the existing research done so far so that the existing gaps can be identified which can then strengthen the existing literature. The systematic literature review presented in this work has outlined six key categories of PQC, namely, lattice-based, code-based, hash-based, multivariate, isogeny-based, symmetric-key-based cryptosystems. The study concluded that the advances made in quantum computing will result in the development of quantum computers with superior computational power. Such highly efficient quantum computers will have the ability to break the currently available cryptography schemes most used in a variety of practical applications. With the advent of quantum computing, the computational capabilities of the potential cyber attackers would grow exponentially, which would render the traditional cyber security measures inadequate. This calls for techniques like PQC to be developed and strengthen.
As quantum computing advances, classical public-key cryptosystems face escalating risks, driving global standardization efforts by NIST, ETSI, and ISO. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent developments in post-quantum cryptography (PQC), focusing on lattice-based, hash-based, and multivariate approaches. We examine their security foundations, implementation challenges, and applicability across domains such as finance, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). A core contribution is the proposed Hybrid Cryptographic Framework (HCF), which combines classical and quantum-resistant primitives to enable a secure and interoperable migration path. The framework integrates hybrid key exchange, dual-signature schemes, and PQC-compatible Merkle trees, and is supported by a discrete multi-objective optimization model for selecting algorithms under real-world constraints. The paper also discusses deployment challenges, including hardware acceleration, side-channel resistance, and legacy compatibility. Real-world case studies illustrate how leading institutions are piloting PQC integration in practice. Finally, we propose a strategic roadmap for PQC adoption, incorporating adaptive triggers based on quantum capabilities and evolving threat models. By aligning cryptographic design with international standards and practical system requirements, this work offers guidance for building resilient, quantum-safe infrastructures.
Quantum computing is the future of computing with promised radical increase in processing capability; however, it is a threat the existing cybersecurity paradigm. Classical encryption techniques especially the ones based on public-key cryptography are insecure against quantum algorithms such as Shor’s algorithm where typical cryptographic schemes the use of which was exemplified by the RSA and ECC will be threatened. While torrents of research have been accomplished in building and developing quantum computers, the importance of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) becomes more felt. This paper attempts to look at the threats that quantum technologies pose to current cryptographic methods and the countermeasures that are being worked on to counter them. We do so to evaluate the current status on quantum computing and its ramifications to data security, as well as the work that academic and government institutions and business enterprises have done on coming with Quantum-Resistant Cryptography. In addition, the paper gives an overview of the most promising post-quantum cryptographic techniques including lattice cryptography, hash-based signatures, and code-based cryptosystems and cryptographic protocols that are under consideration as the next generation cryptographic protocols. It also tackles the problems related to the migration to the post-quantum cryptographic systems the problem of standardisation the problem of compatibility, and the problem of growth of new algorithms. Moreover, prescriptive advice on the concept of quantum readiness and timely implementation of cyber defence plans to safeguard sensitive data and crucial infrastructure against quantum risks is provided. Finally, the paper offers suggestions for the organisations for starting to transition to the post-quantum landscape in terms of using hybrid cryptographic systems and promoting cooperation in the fight against the threats of quantum technology world-wide.
Abstract It is viewed as revolutionary technology, offering incredible potential in terms of computing power within different scientific and industrial sectors. Quantum computers provide remarkable computing power; however, they also present significant security risks to existing public-key cryptography systems used to secure digital communication, online banking systems, government, medical applications, cloud computing systems, and IoT systems. Security of commonly used encryption schemes like RSA, DH, and ECC depends on mathematical problems that are impossible for classical computers to solve but can be easily resolved with the help of powerful enough quantum computers by using Shor’s algorithm. Furthermore, Grover’s algorithm makes exhaustive search attacks much faster, thus effectively lowering the security level of symmetric encryption schemes since it provides the speed-up for brute-force attacks. Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) turned out to be an effective and scalable method to protect digital data from attacks using quantum computing. In contrast to quantum cryptography, which requires a special quantum communication channel, PQC uses classical cryptographic algorithms that cannot be broken down by either classical or quantum computer due to certain mathematical problems. This research paper offers an extensive exploration of post-quantum cryptography through the analysis of the development of quantum computing, weaknesses of current cryptographic techniques, and mathematics behind quantum-resistant algorithms. Moreover, this paper explores the major classes of PQC techniques such as lattice-based, code-based, hash-based, multivariate, and isogeny-based cryptography and provides details about their security and application. Moreover, the report gives an overview of the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Project and analyzes recent standardizations of quantum-proof algorithms to be utilized in future digital infrastructures. Keywords: Post-Quantum Encryption, Quantum Security, Quantum-Proof Public-Key Cryptography, Lattice-Based Security Protocols, ML-KEM Key Encapsulation Mechanism, ML-DSA Digital Signature Algorithm, NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography, Contemporary Cybersecurity, Secure Communications, Cryptographic Algorithms.
The accelerating development of quantum computing represents one of the most significant paradigm shifts in the history of information security. Cryptographic systems that currently underpin global digital infrastructure—including RSA, Diffie–Hellman, and Elliptic Curve Cryptography—rely on mathematical assumptions that collapse under quantum algorithms such as Shor’s and Grover’s. Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) emerges as the most viable and immediate solution to secure communications in the quantum era, offering cryptographic primitives that can be deployed on today’s classical hardware while resisting both classical and quantum attacks. This review provides a comprehensive, detailed examination of PQC, analyzing its mathematical foundations, algorithmic families, standardization progress, and deployment challenges. Special emphasis is placed on the NIST PQC standardization process, the risk posed by “harvest-now-decrypt-later” adversaries, the complexities of global cryptographic migration, and the implications for critical digital infrastructures such as cloud computing, blockchain systems, long-lifespan data archives, IoT ecosystems, and national cybersecurity. Through standalone equations, tables, and figures—including a conceptual visual provided by the user—this paper offers a complete, cohesive, and rigorous synthesis. The findings underscore that the transition to PQC is not optional but imperative, requiring coordinated scientific, governmental, and industrial effort to safeguard the digital future.