Post-Quantum World: From Research to Real-World Cryptography

MIT's Vinod Vaikuntanathan on Post-Quantum Shift, Cryptography's Role in AI Trust Rahul Neel Mani (@rneelmani) • June 19, 2025

Quantum computing is moving closer to reality and so is the need to secure digital infrastructure. Post-quantum cryptography, once only an academic pursuit, is now entering a critical phase of standardization and enterprise readiness.

See Also: OnDemand | Cryptographic Control in a Zero Trust World: Mastering Machine-to-Machine Trust

With governments setting aggressive timelines for migration and adversaries harvesting encrypted data for future decryption, the shift is inevitable and urgent. Yet, challenges remain: from integrating quantum-safe algorithms into existing protocols to ensuring crypto-agility across diverse IT environments.

"Companies such as Google and Amazon can switch quickly, but for a small bank or a local enterprise, deploying PQC requires more support and awareness," said Vinod Vaikuntanathan, professor of computer science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He also warns of the "store now, decrypt ...