Classical asymmetric cryptographic algorithms have formed the basis of modern cybersecurity protocols across many application areas, including intelligent healthcare systems. For decades, these algorithms have provided effective solutions for ensuring the confidentiality, authenticity, integrity and non-repudiation of information. However, asymmetric cryptographic algorithms rely on mathematical problems with empirically established (but unproven) computational hardness. The development of quantum computing algorithms capable of breaking these classical cryptosystems has created a well-recognised threat to the entire existing cybersecurity infrastructure. In response, national and international standardisation bodies have initiated the development and competitive selection of new, post-quantum cryptographic algorithms. The first such algorithms have already been standardised by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). However, the standardisation process is only the beginning of a much more complex, resource-intensive practical implementation. This chapter analyses recent advances in post-quantum cryptographic algorithms and their relevance to intelligent healthcare systems. It examines modern cryptographic approaches to healthcare data protection, identifies the main barriers to post-quantum migration in healthcare environments and proposes improvements in computational efficiency for basic cryptographic operations.
Classical asymmetric cryptographic algorithms have formed the basis of modern cybersecurity protocols across many application areas, including intelligent healthcare systems. For decades, these algorithms have provided effective solutions for ensuring the confidentiality, authenticity, integrity and non-repudiation of information. However, asymmetric cryptographic algorithms rely on mathematical problems with empirically established (but unproven) computational hardness. The development of quantum computing algorithms capable of breaking these classical cryptosystems has created a well-recognised threat to the entire existing cybersecurity infrastructure. In response, national and international standardisation bodies have initiated the development and competitive selection of new, post-quantum cryptographic algorithms. The first such algorithms have already been standardised by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). However, the standardisation process is only the beginning of a much more complex, resource-intensive practical implementation. This chapter analyses recent advances in post-quantum cryptographic algorithms and their relevance to intelligent healthcare systems. It examines modern cryptographic approaches to healthcare data protection, identifies the main barriers to post-quantum migration in healthcare environments and proposes improvements in computational efficiency for basic cryptographic operations.
The rapid advancement of quantum computing poses a significant threat to current cryptographic standards, particularly those securing electronic health records (EHRs) in healthcare systems.Traditional encryption methods such as RSA, ECC, and AES, while robust against classical attacks, are vulnerable to quantum algorithms like Shor's and Grover's, which can efficiently break cryptographic keys and compromise patient data integrity.As healthcare systems become increasingly interconnected through the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-based infrastructures, the need for quantum-resistant security mechanisms becomes paramount.Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) emerges as a viable solution to future-proof EHR security by employing lattice-based, hash-based, code-based, and multivariate polynomial cryptographic techniques that remain resistant to quantum attacks.This paper explores the implications of quantum computing on healthcare cybersecurity, emphasizing the vulnerabilities of existing encryption protocols and the necessity of transitioning toward PQC frameworks.Furthermore, we examine the integration of PQC within healthcare infrastructures, focusing on key exchange mechanisms, digital signatures, and end-to-end encryption for secure EHR transactions.Additionally, the study highlights regulatory and compliance considerations, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) PQC standardization efforts and the role of Zero Trust security models in mitigating quantum-era cyber risks.Case studies illustrate successful implementations of PQC in healthcare networks, demonstrating its feasibility and effectiveness in safeguarding sensitive medical information.By adopting quantum-resistant cryptographic standards, healthcare institutions can proactively defend against emerging cyber threats, ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and long-term resilience in the face of quantum computing advancements.
The paper proposes strategic steps that organizations can take to future-proof their security architecture against quantum threats for the security of data integrity and confidentiality in the post-quantum era. it is a very threat that quantum computing is advancing too fast, and the classical cryptographic systems will be in danger. Therefore, we need to modify the methods of cryptography in Quantum- Safe Cryptography. In this paper, we focus on exposing the vulnerabilities of existing public-key cryptosystems faced with quantum attacks and the direction of the post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) algorithm in securing the underlain infrastructure. The paper discusses ongoing efforts to standardize cryptosystems led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It overviews several quantum-resistant cryptographic techniques: lattice-based, hash-based, and code-based examples. Moreover, the paper also outlines difficulties in implementing quantum-safe cryptography solutions into currently in-place cybersecurity frameworks, especially in the finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure industries.
The paper proposes strategic steps that organizations can take to future-proof their security architecture against quantum threats for the security of data integrity and confidentiality in the post-quantum era. it is a very threat that quantum computing is advancing too fast, and the classical cryptographic systems will be in danger. Therefore, we need to modify the methods of cryptography in Quantum-Safe Cryptography. In this paper, we focus on exposing the vulnerabilities of existing public-key cryptosystems faced with quantum attacks and the direction of the post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) algorithm in securing the underlain infrastructure. The paper discusses ongoing efforts to standardize cryptosystems led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It overviews several quantum-resistant cryptographic techniques: lattice-based, hash-based, and code-based examples. Moreover, the paper also outlines difficulties in implementing quantum-safe cryptography solutions into currently in-place cybersecurity frameworks, especially in the finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure industries.
As developments in quantum computing threaten to break existing encryption techniques safeguarding sensitive patient information in cloud-based medical systems, the healthcare sector is confronting never-before-seen cryptographic difficulties. Addressing unique needs like multi-decade data retention demands, legacy medical device limitations, and real-time patient care demands, the framework provides a specialized quantum-secure cryptographic design created particularly for healthcare settings. Three innovations are at the basis: a tiered implementation plan that dynamically allocates post-quantum protection level by medical data sensitivity categorisation, application to edge computing architecture that allows quantum-resistant security with resource-constrained medical devices without hardware enhancements, and healthcare interoperability-aware hybrid protocols to ensure continuous data transfer between FHIR, HL7, and DICOM standards in the event of cryptographic switchovers. The model uses NIST-standardized post-quantum algorithms such as CRYSTALS-Kyber and CRYSTALS-Dilithium (digital signatures) and SPHINCS+ (long-term integrity verification) tailored to healthcare with competing requirements of the highest security and lowest operations latency. The implementation strategies will include the application of phase-based implementation approaches that will include the infrastructure preparation phase through full integration of the ecosystem, with a special focus on the optimization of HIPAA compliance and alignment of regulatory frameworks. Performance optimization techniques leverage characteristic healthcare data access patterns, including patient-centric workflows, clinical department batch processing, and medical imaging parallelization strategies. The quantum-safe infrastructure establishes foundational capabilities for next-generation healthcare innovations, including precision medicine genomics platforms, federated artificial intelligence systems, and global health collaboration networks requiring cryptographic security guarantees spanning decades or centuries against both classical and quantum computational threats.
Quantum computers are capable of solving problems that classical computers cannot, particularly in the realm of cryptographic algorithms such as RSA, DSA, and ECC. Post quantum cryptography refers classical cryptographic algorithm that are designed to secure sensitive data. This research explores the application of post-quantum cryptographic techniques in healthcare systems, with a specific focus on integrating Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) with Genetic Algorithms (GA) for enhanced key optimization. As quantum computing advances, traditional cryptographic systems employed in health care are more and more vulnerable to being broken. Security of sensitive patient information—like electronic health records (EHRs), diagnostic data, and personally identifiable information— requires strong solutions that can handle future quantum attacks. Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) provides a hopeful way forward by employing quantum computer-resistant algorithms. This paper investigates the deployment of PQC methods—e.g., lattice-based, hash-based, and multivariate polynomial cryptography—inside healthcare systems to improve data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It assesses the weaknesses of present encryption technologies and introduces PQC as a necessary update to protect patient information from sophisticated cyberattacks. The study also addresses the interoperability, computational overhead, and infrastructure readiness challenges of implementing PQC in healthcare. By implementing quantum-resilient cryptographic protocols, healthcare facilities are able to future-proof data protection practices and guarantee the safeguarding of patient data in an era governed by quantum computing.
The increasing digitalization of the healthcare system, driven by electronic health records, medical IoT devices, and AI-aided diagnostics, has significantly expanded the attack surface for cyber threats. Although current cryptographic protocols provide sufficient security against classical adversaries, new developments in quantum computing threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of medical information as never before. Shor’s algorithm could break widely used asymmetric encryption systems, and Grover’s algorithm weakens symmetric ones, which could render modern healthcare security systems obsolete. This review provides an in-depth and organized analysis of the evolving quantum threat environment in healthcare ecosystems and of the need to move toward quantum-resilient security architectures. It synthesizes the existing literature on post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and identifies lattice-based, hash-based, multivariate, and code-based algorithms as potentially viable long-term replacements. Moreover, it examines the cybersecurity issues that quantum-enabled attacks pose to medical IoT systems, clinical decision-support systems, wearable sensors, telemedicine systems, and cloud-based health information exchanges. The review also covers hybrid quantum-classical defenses, quantum key distribution (QKD), quantum random number generation (QRNG), and blockchain-based trust systems that aim to make systems resilient to advanced persistent quantum attacks. This paper identifies key gaps and outlines future research directions for developing quantum-secure medical systems. The results highlight the importance of early adoption of PQC standards and a layered cyber defense approach to protect patient privacy, ensure regulatory compliance, and retain trust in next-generation digital medical data communication.