The arrival of post-quantum cryptography will mean much more than a simple technological upgrade. Organizations will need to undergo a gradual transformation that involves a thorough review of digital certificate management, cryptographic keys, algorithms, and digital trust systems to ensure the security of their operations in the future.
Adding to this scenario is an increasingly relevant factor: the expansion of artificial intelligence and autonomous agents. The growing interaction between people and automated systems will make it essential to have robust digital identities and protected communications via advanced cryptographic mechanisms capable of responding to increasingly complex and automated environments.
Experts agree that the transition to the post-quantum era will not start when quantum computers reach widespread commercial deployment. For years, traditional cryptographic technologies will coexist with new models designed to withstand quantum computing capabilities, requiring organizations to start preparing now.
In this context, and based on insights from the last edition of their annual event Identity Redtrust Day, the company has identified seven strategic issues that technology, security, and digital transformation leaders—including CIOs and CISOs—should address to assess their organizations’ readiness for the challenges of post-quantum cryptography.
Does company leadership understand the impact of the post-quantum transition?
Preparation for the quantum era can’t be limited to the technical field. It requires leadership involvement, budget planning, and a clear vision of its impact on business continuity, regulatory compliance, and digital trust.
Do we know where cryptography is used?
Before starting any migration, organizations need to identify where digital certificates, cryptographic keys, encryption algorithms, and authentication mechanisms are used. Without this visibility, any transition plan risks leaving critical assets out of reach.
Do we have an up-to-date cryptographic inventory?
Initial identification is not enough. In increasingly distributed corporate environments, the cryptographic asset inventory must be continuously maintained, classifying digital certificates, algorithms, and dependencies by criticality, expiration date, and risk level.
Can we automate discovery and management?
The post-quantum transition cannot be tackled with manual processes. Organizations will need to automate the discovery, renewal, monitoring, and lifecycle management of digital certificates and other cryptographic assets to prepare for large-scale migration.
Are we already testing quantum-resistant technologies?
The process should include trial phases with post-quantum certificates, new algorithms, and quantum-resistant communications. These validations will help identify incompatibilities, evaluate operational impact, enable phased deployments, and ensure that future interactions—between people, applications, and AI agents—maintain the trust and integrity required by new digital environments.
Is our digital trust infrastructure prepared?
Before deploying new algorithms, organizations must assess whether their infrastructure protecting digital identities, digital certificates, and signing processes is ready to handle the change. This involves analyzing technologies, processes, and third-party dependencies to ensure a smooth and secure transition.
Do we have a continuous cryptographic governance model?
Post-quantum readiness does not end with deploying new algorithms. Organizations must manage their cryptography continuously through policies, monitoring, automation, and the ability to adapt to future technological or regulatory changes.
“Many organizations focus their post-quantum conversations on the migration itself, but the real challenge begins earlier: knowing what they have, where it is, who manages it, and how they can adapt when needed,” says Daniel Rodríguez, CEO of Redtrust. He adds: “Quantum computing poses an obvious challenge to current cryptography, but we also need to prepare for a scenario where artificial intelligence acts autonomously. Without strong digital identities and future-proof cryptography, ensuring trust between people, machines, and intelligent agents will be impossible.”
Preparation does not depend solely on the organization itself. Evaluating the maturity of technology providers, business partners, and the supply chain will be key to avoiding bottlenecks during the migration process. Similarly, moving toward end-to-end encryption models and centralized digital certificate management will allow companies to respond more flexibly to the challenges posed by quantum computing and the increasing automation driven by artificial intelligence.
With this roadmap, the post-quantum transition should be approached as an ongoing evolution of corporate digital trust, grounded in control, automation, and adaptability.
