Harvest Now, Decrypt Later (HNDL)

What Is Harvest Now, Decrypt Later (HNDL)?

Harvest Now, Decrypt Later (HNDL) is an adversary strategy of collecting encrypted data today — even if it cannot be decrypted with current technology — with the intent of decrypting it later once quantum computing or other breakthroughs make today's cryptography breakable.

HNDL is the practical reason post-quantum cryptography (PQC) matters now, not in 2030. Long-retention sensitive data — intellectual property, classified records, healthcare data, financial information — is at risk the moment it is intercepted, regardless of when decryption becomes feasible. This is why federal mandates (OMB M-23-02, CNSA 2.0) and regulated industries are treating PQC migration as an urgent program rather than a future initiative.

Related Terms

Harvest Now, Forge Later · Post-Quantum Cryptography · Cryptographic Bill of Materials · OMB M-23-02 · CNSA 2.0