You Don’t Need to Be a Cryptographer to Start Preparing for Post Quantum Security

For decades, public-key cryptography has been the backbone of protecting sensitive information, such as financial transactions, personal data, corporate communications, and government secrets. Whether logging into a secure banking app, shopping online, or browsing encrypted websites (like HTTPS), public key infrastructure (PKI) protects your data from cybercriminals. However, the rise of quantum computing introduces transformative and potentially disruptive challenge to this foundation of digital trust. THE QUANTUM REVOLUTION Quantum computers can perform complex computations faster than even the most advanced current supercomputers. While this capability promises breakthroughs in drug discovery and healthcare, materials science or Artificial Intelligence (AI), it also poses a significant threat to current cryptographic systems. Quantum computers could break widely used publickey cryptographic systems (e.g., RSA, ECC), compromising critical infrastructure security such as energy grids, financial systems, and sensitive government communication networks. Compromised public-key cryptography could lead to forged digital certificates or signatures, undermining trust in banking, healthcare, and government services. Quantum cryptography attacks could also compromise billions of connected devices, from smart homes to Industrial Control Systems (ICS), by

INTRODUCTION When people hear “IoT security, [https://itsec.asia/services/ot-ics-cybersecurity]” they often assume it’s something only IT teams need to worry about. In reality, IoT security affects everyday users, households, and businesses alike.* From smart home devices to office surveillance systems, connected devices are now part of critical daily operations. The more devices we connect, the wider the potential attack surface becomes. Here’s the part no one really talks about: Many IoT environments are deployed quickly for convenience, not necessarily designed with security as the top priority. It’s not negligence. It’s just how fast technology moves. Source: aciano.net [https://aciano.net/blog/iot-security-risks/], cio.com [https://www.cio.com/article/3990581/iot-security-challenges-and-best-practices-for-a-hyperconnected-world.html?] THE IOT LANDSCAPE NOWADAYS Security used to focus on protecting networks with firewalls and perimeter defenses. Today, attackers are shifting their focus to easier targets: user credentials, weak device authentication, misconfigured cloud dashboards, and unpatched firmware.  Today, attackers are more interested in: * User credentials * Weak device authentication * Misconfigured cloud dashboards * Unpatched firmware IoT devices often rely on cloud platforms for monitoring, analytics, and control. That means IoT security is no longer just about the

INTRODUCTION Nowadays applications are at the center of digital business operations. From mobile banking and e-commerce platforms to internal enterprise systems, organizations rely heavily on applications to serve customers and manage data. However, as applications become more complex and interconnected, they also become one of the most common targets for cyberattacks. In fact, web applications are responsible for a large percentage of data breaches worldwide. The Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report indicates that cybercriminals frequently exploit web applications as an attack vector. This growing threat raises an important question, “Are your applications truly secure against modern cyber threats?” One of the most effective ways to protect applications is through application security, a proactive approach to identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. Source: verizon.com [https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/],    A REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE: WHEN AN UNSECURED API EXPOSES MILLIONS Let's look at something that actually happened to Trello in early 2024.In January 2024, a hacker found a weakness in Trello's system, specifically, a part of the app called a REST API. This API had a