NIST Releases Post-Quantum Encryption Standards

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has finalized new post-quantum encryption standards, which are designed to withstand attack from a quantum computer.

“Quantum computing technology is developing rapidly,” the announcement says, “and some experts predict that a device with the capability to break current encryption methods could appear within a decade, threatening the security and privacy of individuals, organizations and entire nations.”

The new Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are:

• FIPS 203 – Module-Lattice-Based Key-Encapsulation Mechanism Standard
• FIPS 204 – Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Standard
• FIPS 205 – Stateless Hash-Based Digital Signature Standard

These standards, effective as of August 14, 2024, “include instructions for incorporating them into products and encryption systems,” says Dustin Moody, who heads the PQC standardization project. “We encourage system administrators to start integrating them into their systems immediately, because full integration will take time.”

Read more at NIST.