PQC Compliance
Quantum computing will break today’s public-key encryption by 2030, according to research by Gartner, leaving organizations with a narrowing window to find, classify, and replace vulnerable algorithms. Before adopting post-quantum cryptography (PQC), you’ll first need to understand the cryptography already embedded across your software and devices, because you cannot replace what you cannot see.
What is Post-Quantum Cryptography?
PQC protects data from the power of future quantum computers, machines capable of breaking today’s RSA, ECDH, and ECDSA encryption in minutes. As mandates like OMB M-23-02 and NSM-10 make PQC readiness a national priority, every organization must inventory and replace vulnerable algorithms before quantum decryption becomes a reality.
Why Cryptographic Visibility Matters
- Most organizations do not have a complete inventory of the cryptography inside their software, devices, or third-party components.
- Expired certificates and exposed or weak cryptographic keys often exist inside binary packages, not in SBOMs derived solely from source code.
- Some enterprise data has a long security lifespan, especially government-regulated data, meaning quantum-vulnerable cryptography must be replaced well before quantum attacks become practical.
- Attackers may harvest encrypted data now, knowing it can be decrypted later with future quantum capabilities.
- Long-lived and embedded systems are the hardest to upgrade because they rely on inaccessible firmware and legacy components, making them the most critical to secure for PQC compliance.
Federal guidance such as NSM-10, OMB M-23-02, and CISA’s Quantum Readiness factsheet highlight the urgency, but the need for cryptographic visibility applies across every software supply chain.
The Four Existing Approaches to PQC Inventory, and Why They Fail
Organizations attempt PQC inventory in four ways today. All leave blind spots.
1
Source-Based Inventory
Source scans reveal intended cryptographic use — imported libraries, function calls, or declared packages — but not what ultimately ends up in the shipped binary.
2
Network-Based Discovery
Network scanning analyzes exposed crypto like certificates and protocols, but reveals nothing about the cryptography inside the software itself.
3
Configuration-Based Scanning
Configuration-based scanning reviews OS settings and metadata to infer cryptography, but shows only intended configuration—not the cryptographic implementations inside compiled binaries.
4
Vendor or Self-Attestation
Vendor self-attestations and PQC-readiness claims are inconsistent and often incomplete. They cannot reliably identify embedded crypto, modified FOSS libraries, inherited supply-chain components, or legacy artifacts.
Why Binary Analysis Is the Missing Layer
All four approaches miss the most important source of truth: the actual cryptographic implementation embedded in the compiled binary.
Binary Composition Analysis (BCA) reveals:
- Deprecated algorithms
- Hardcoded keys
- Public/private key pairs
- Expired certificates
- Unused but still-shipped crypto
- Cryptographic libraries with vulnerable defaults
- Whether an artifact is reachable through OS-level interaction
Analysis of all artifacts in the binary software or firmware is the only way to surface crypto as it actually exists in the shipped, deployed artifact.
Binary analysis is central to readiness for PQC compliance.
Learn how the NetRise Platform analyzes firmware, binaries, containers, and embedded software to uncover vulnerable algorithms.
What Binary Analysis Reveals
Binary analysis closes this gap by revealing cryptography as it actually exists inside compiled software.
Cryptography Across Real-World Software Artifacts
Firmware, executables (PE, ELF), containers, and compiled libraries — extending visibility across embedded devices, servers, and containerized environments.
Complete Cryptographic Material Extraction
Algorithms, key lengths, certs, private keys, key derivation, library families.
SBOM Correlation
Reconciliation between declared and actual cryptography for audit-grade reporting.
Cryptographic Analysis in NetRise Today
In analyzing binary images, NetRise reveals cryptographic artifacts such as detected certificates and public/private key pairs. The results show the scale and depth of algorithms that will be increasingly vulnerable as quantum computing becomes mainstream.
What This Means for PQC Compliance Readiness
The practical challenge of PQC Compliance readiness is discovering all the classical cryptography that must be replaced or modernized.
Organizations must:
- Locate and classify vulnerable algorithms
- Understand where cryptography is used in practice
- Prioritize long-lived assets
- Validate vendor claims
- Correlate SBOMs with binary reality
- Prepare a readiness strategy for PQC
Further Reading & Guidance
For organizations considering post-quantum readiness — across government, industry, and device ecosystems — the following resources outline the evolving expectations and timelines for PQC adoption:
- Quantum Readiness: Migration to Post-Quantum Cryptography Factsheet (CISA + NIST + NSA)
- OMB Memo M-23-02 – Migrating to Post-Quantum Cryptography (OMB)
- National Security Memorandum-10 – Promoting U.S. Leadership in Quantum Computing While Mitigating Risks to Vulnerable Cryptographic Systems (White House)
- NetRise PQC Report
Post-quantum readiness begins with understanding your cryptographic footprint. Visibility into the binaries you ship and deploy gives you the clarity to plan, prioritize, and execute a successful PQC transition.
Ready to See the NetRise Platform?
PQC compliance starts with knowing what’s vulnerable. See how NetRise deliverscryptographic insight across firmware, software, and embedded systems.
