The Race for Quantum-Safe Encryption: What You Need to Know

For decades, encryption has safeguarded everything from private emails to online banking. But a new computing frontier—quantum computing—threatens to render many of today’s encryption methods obsolete. In response, the global tech and security community is racing to develop quantum-safe encryption, also known as post-quantum cryptography (PQC).

This shift isn’t theoretical or decades away. Quantum decryption threats are real, and attackers are already preparing by harvesting encrypted data today in anticipation of breaking it later. Here’s what you need to know about the race to secure our digital future—and why it matters now.

Why Current Encryption Methods Are at Risk

The Threat of Quantum Computing

Quantum computers are fundamentally different from the classical machines we use today. Rather than relying on bits (ones and zeroes), they use qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This allows them to solve certain complex mathematical problems exponentially faster than classical systems.

The concern? Many existing encryption schemes rely on the difficulty of those exact problems. Once quantum computers become powerful and stable enough, they will be capable of cracking RSA, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), and PGP in a fraction of the time once considered impossible.

Vulnerable Encryption Protocols

The encryption methods that form the backbone of internet security—TLS (used in HTTPS), VPNs, and secure messaging systems—are all built on classical cryptography. Without an upgrade, these technologies will not survive the quantum leap.

What Is Quantum-Safe Encryption?

Definition and Importance

Quantum-safe encryption, or post-quantum cryptography, refers to cryptographic algorithms that are resistant to attacks from both classical and quantum computers. These algorithms are being designed to stand up to the processing power and unique capabilities of quantum machines.

Key Cryptographic Techniques

Unlike RSA and ECC, post-quantum encryption uses a range of different mathematical techniques, including:

• Lattice-based cryptography – Known for its efficiency and strong quantum resistance.

• Code-based cryptography – Built on error-correcting codes that are highly resistant to quantum attacks.

• Multivariate polynomial cryptography – Uses equations with multiple variables that are difficult to solve even with quantum computing.

• Hash-based cryptography – Leverages secure hash functions for digital signatures that are quantum-safe.

Who Is Leading the Race?

Global Research & Standards Development

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is leading the effort to standardize post-quantum encryption. In 2016, NIST launched a global competition to identify and evaluate quantum-resistant algorithms. Final selections are now being prepared for publication, with widespread adoption expected to follow.

Countries like China, Germany, and the UK are also investing heavily in quantum computing and cryptography. These efforts are supported by open-source communities and security researchers who are evaluating these algorithms through public audits and implementation trials.

Tech Industry Adoption

Major tech companies including IBM, Google, Cloudflare, and others are testing post-quantum encryption in real-world environments. However, many consumer platforms—especially email providers—have yet to adopt PQC at scale.

The Real-World Risk: Harvest Now, Decrypt Later

The biggest immediate risk is not what quantum computers can do today—but what they’ll be able to do soon.
Cybercriminals and surveillance agencies are already engaged in a strategy known as "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later":

• Encrypted emails and communications are intercepted and stored.

• Once quantum computers reach decryption capability, that data can be decrypted retroactively.

For sensitive information like legal documents, financial records, and intellectual property, the implications are enormous.

What You Can Do to Prepare

For Individuals

• Use email and messaging providers that are preparing for PQC, rather than relying on legacy platforms.

• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect against password-based account compromises.

• Avoid sending sensitive information through unsecured or outdated platforms.

For Businesses

• Begin auditing your systems to identify where classical encryption is still in use.

• Start transitioning business-critical tools—especially email, VPNs, and encrypted backups—to quantum-safe alternatives.

• Evaluate your vendors’ readiness: are they planning to adopt PQC, and when?

How Secria Is Preparing for the Post-Quantum Future

Secria is actively building for the post-quantum era. Our secure email platform is being developed with quantum-resistant encryption in mind, providing users with forward-looking protection for their private communications.

Key capabilities include:

• Integration of post-quantum cryptographic algorithms aligned with NIST's upcoming standards.

• End-to-end encrypted messaging to ensure no one—aside from the intended recipient—can read your emails.

• Email aliasing to protect users’ identities across services.

• Protection against email surveillance, including blocking of tracking pixels and advanced spam filtering.

Secria’s mission is to offer not only secure email for today’s threats, but resilient protection for the future of digital communication.

Conclusion

The race for quantum-safe encryption is no longer theoretical—it’s underway. The stakes are high, and the timeline is short.

Whether you’re a business protecting client data or an individual concerned with privacy, the steps you take today will determine whether your communications remain private tomorrow. Transitioning to post-quantum encryption isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

Secria offers the tools to help you make that transition now, ensuring that your emails are protected long after today’s encryption becomes obsolete.

FAQs

1. What is quantum-safe encryption?
Quantum-safe encryption refers to cryptographic algorithms that can withstand attacks from both classical and quantum computers.

2. When will quantum computers break current encryption?
Estimates vary, but many experts believe this could happen within the next 5–10 years.

3. Who is standardizing post-quantum encryption?
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is leading the global effort to create post-quantum standards.

4. Is my current email provider quantum-safe?
Most are not. Secria has implemented post-quantum encryption to future-proof secure email.

5. How can I protect my data before quantum threats become real?
Start by using services like Secria that prioritize forward-compatible encryption and secure communication infrastructure.