Post-Quantum Questions to Ask Your Vendors

CISA, the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) and the National Security Agency (NSA) released joint guidance and an accompanying quick-reference list to help organizations assess vendor readiness for transitioning to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). As quantum computing advances, widely used public-key cryptography will become vulnerable to compromise from cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs). To protect their systems and data, organizations must plan for and transition to PQC—which includes algorithms capable of withstanding both classical computing and quantum-enabled threats—before CRQCs become available. Many organizations rely on third-party vendors for managed services, cloud capabilities, and other cryptography-dependent products and services. Cryptography is also embedded in systems and devices that are difficult to update, tied to long asset lifecycles, and require vendor support or replacement—such as industrial control systems and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Reliance on vendors means that effective PQC transition depends on vendor readiness, and early, structured engagement with these vendors is critical to planning efforts. Organizations can use the vendor-neutral questions outlined in this guidance to determine whether a vendor understands quantum-related risks, maintains transparency over its cryptographic implementations, and supports a secure, cost-effective and timely transition to PQC. Visit CISA’s PQC Initiative page for additional resources.