PQC Readiness & Migration

Prepare your organization for the next cryptographic transition

Quantum computing is changing the assumptions behind modern cybersecurity. The public-key cryptography used to protect communications, authenticate users and devices, sign software, and establish digital trust will need to transition to quantum-resistant alternatives.

SevenSecure helps organizations understand their cryptographic exposure, establish a reliable Cryptographic Bill of Materials (CBOM), prioritize risk, and execute a practical migration to post-quantum cryptography. Our methodology connects security strategy with the applications, infrastructure, data, vendors, and operating processes that must change.

Schedule a PQC Consultation

Quantum risk is a business issue today

A cryptographically relevant quantum computer may still be years away, but the work required to prepare complex environments cannot be deferred until one arrives.

Public-key algorithms such as RSA and elliptic-curve cryptography are embedded throughout enterprise technology: TLS, VPNs, PKI, digital certificates, identity systems, code signing, applications, APIs, cloud services, connected devices, operational technology, and third-party products. Finding those dependencies, understanding what they protect, coordinating vendors, and migrating them safely can take years.

Sensitive information also faces a harvest-now, decrypt-later threat. An adversary can capture encrypted information today and retain it until future capabilities make decryption possible. Information that must remain confidential for many years may therefore carry quantum-related exposure now.

NIST finalized its first post-quantum cryptography standards in August 2024: FIPS 203 for ML-KEM, FIPS 204 for ML-DSA, and FIPS 205 for SLH-DSA. These standards give organizations a foundation for moving from awareness to structured planning and implementation.

The challenge is larger than an algorithm replacement

A successful transition requires more than selecting a post-quantum algorithm. Organizations must know where cryptography exists, what business processes depend on it, how long protected information must remain secure, which products can support new standards, and how changes will affect performance and interoperability.

Without that context, migration decisions may shift risk rather than reduce it.

From cryptographic uncertainty to an actionable migration program

SevenSecure provides an integrated PQC Readiness and Migration engagement. Every engagement begins with discovery because an organization cannot assess quantum exposure or build a defensible roadmap until it understands where and how cryptography is used.  Our methodology moves continuously from discovery through remediation and sustained crypto-agility. Each phase builds on verified information from the phase before it.

01 — Discover and establish the baseline

We identify cryptographic use across the environment and create or validate a Cryptographic Bill of Materials. Discovery may encompass applications, source code, APIs, data platforms, certificates, PKI, key-management systems, network protocols, cloud services, endpoints, connected devices, operational technology, development pipelines, and third-party dependencies.  The objective is not simply to produce a list of algorithms.  The baseline connects cryptographic components to systems, owners, business services, protected information, and technology dependencies.

Typical activities include:

      • Defining scope, stakeholders, and discovery priorities
      • Reviewing available architecture, asset, certificate, and key inventories
      • Identifying cryptographic algorithms, protocols, libraries, keys, and certificates
      • Mapping cryptographic use to applications, infrastructure, data, and business services
      • Recording ownership, dependencies, and available vendor information
      • Establishing or validating the CBOM as the program’s system of record

 

02 — Assess exposure and prioritize risk

We evaluate the discovered cryptographic estate to identify quantum-vulnerable implementations and determine where action is most urgent. Findings are considered in business context rather than ranked solely by algorithm.  Prioritization considers the sensitivity and required confidentiality period of the data, business criticality, external exposure, regulatory obligations, technical dependencies, vendor readiness, and the difficulty of remediation.

The result is a risk-informed view of:

      • Quantum-vulnerable algorithms and protocols
      • Long-lived sensitive information exposed to harvest-now, decrypt-later risk
      • High-value systems and trust services that require early attention
      • Hard-coded, legacy, embedded, or vendor-controlled cryptography
      • Gaps in governance, ownership, skills, and cryptographic lifecycle management
      • Dependencies that could constrain or delay migration

 

03 — Design the migration strategy

We translate the assessment into a practical target state and sequenced migration roadmap. The strategy accounts for organizational risk, standards, platform capabilities, product roadmaps, interoperability requirements, and the rate at which change can be safely absorbed.  Where appropriate, the plan may include controlled use of hybrid approaches that combine classical and post-quantum mechanisms during transition. Hybrid designs are evaluated for the specific protocol, product, use case, and assurance requirements; they are not treated as a universal solution.

Planning outputs may include:

      • Target cryptographic standards and approved migration patterns
      • Prioritized remediation waves and implementation backlogs
      • Architecture and integration requirements
      • Vendor-readiness and supply-chain actions
      • Pilot and proof-of-concept recommendations
      • Resource, governance, training, and program dependencies
      • Success measures and executive reporting requirements

 

04 — Migrate and remediate

SevenSecure supports the controlled implementation of the roadmap. We work with security, architecture, infrastructure, application, cloud, DevSecOps, procurement, and business teams to coordinate changes across the cryptographic ecosystem.  Migration may involve configuration changes, certificate and PKI modernization, protocol upgrades, application refactoring, library replacement, product upgrades, vendor coordination, and the introduction of new key-establishment or digital signature capabilities.

Implementation is phased to manage operational risk and provide evidence before broader deployment.

 

05 — Validate security and operational readiness

Deploying a new algorithm does not by itself establish security. We validate that migrated solutions operate as intended and that implementation choices have not introduced unacceptable performance, availability, interoperability, downgrade, or fallback risks.  Validation may include architecture review, configuration verification, interoperability testing, performance testing, failure and rollback scenarios, security-control testing, and confirmation that the CBOM and supporting documentation reflect the deployed state.

 

06 — Sustain crypto-agility

PQC migration is part of a broader cryptographic lifecycle. Algorithms, standards, products, and threats will continue to evolve after the initial transition.

We help embed cryptographic governance into ongoing operations so that future changes can be identified, evaluated, and implemented without repeating a one-time discovery exercise. The CBOM becomes a maintained operational asset connected to policy, architecture, procurement, vulnerability management, and technology lifecycle processes.

 

What your organization gains

The engagement is tailored to scope and maturity, but is designed to leave the organization with a defensible basis for action—not another high-level statement of quantum risk.

Expected outcomes can include:

    • A verified baseline of cryptographic assets and dependencies
    • A CBOM structured to support continuing governance and migration tracking
    • Identification of quantum-vulnerable cryptography and material exposure
    • Risk prioritization tied to data, business services, and confidentiality requirements
    • A target-state strategy aligned with applicable standards and organizational needs
    • A phased roadmap with accountable actions and measurable milestones
    • Vendor and supply-chain readiness findings
    • Pilot, remediation, testing, and validation plans
    • Executive-level reporting supported by traceable technical evidence
    • A sustainable approach to cryptographic governance and crypto-agility

Where we look for cryptographic dependencies

Quantum-vulnerable cryptography can appear anywhere digital trust is created or protected.

Depending on the agreed scope, SevenSecure can evaluate areas such as:

    • Public key infrastructure and certificate services
    • Web, API, email, and network encryption
    • Identity, authentication, and machine-to-machine trust
    • Virtual private networks and secure remote access
    • Cloud platforms, SaaS services, and key-management systems
    • Applications, source code, libraries, and development pipelines
    • Databases, storage, backups, and long-lived archives
    • Digital signatures, documents, transactions, and code signing
    • Endpoints, mobile platforms, IoT, and operational technology
    • Third-party products, service providers, and supply-chain dependencies

Built for complex and regulated environments

PQC decisions must fit the organization that will operate them. SevenSecure combines cybersecurity advisory experience with data-protection, architecture, governance, and implementation perspectives. We help stakeholders translate changing cryptographic standards into a program that reflects their technology estate, risk appetite, regulatory environment, and business priorities.

Our approach is:

    • Evidence-driven — Recommendations are grounded in discovered cryptographic use and business context.
    • Risk-based — Priorities reflect the value and required lifetime of protected information, not hype-driven timelines.
    • Vendor-aware — Roadmaps account for the products and service providers on which the organization depends.
    • Standards-informed — Designs consider current standards and guidance while allowing for continued evolution.
    • Implementation-focused — Strategy is connected to architecture, testing, remediation, and operating processes.
    • Crypto-agile — The goal is not only to complete today’s migration, but also to improve the organization’s ability to manage future cryptographic change.

Start before urgency removes your options

Organizations do not need to replace every cryptographic control immediately. They do need sufficient visibility to determine what is exposed, what must move first, and which dependencies could become future obstacles.

SevenSecure can help you establish that baseline and turn it into a practical, prioritized migration program.

Schedule a PQC Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is post-quantum cryptography?   Post-quantum cryptography refers to cryptographic algorithms designed to resist attacks from both classical and quantum computers. These algorithms run on conventional computing platforms; organizations do not need a quantum computer to implement them.
  2. Why should organizations begin preparing now?  Cryptography is deeply embedded in enterprise technology, and large-scale transitions require discovery, planning, testing, vendor coordination, and phased implementation. In addition, information captured today may remain sensitive when future quantum capabilities emerge.
  3. What is a Cryptographic Bill of Materials?   A CBOM is a structured record of the cryptographic algorithms, protocols, libraries, keys, certificates, and related dependencies used within an organization’s technology environment. For PQC planning, it connects cryptographic use to systems, owners, data, business services, and remediation status.
  4. Is a PQC readiness assessment only a questionnaire?   No. SevenSecure’s approach is evidence-based. Stakeholder input is important, but it is combined with available technical discovery, architecture and documentation review, dependency analysis, and validation of the cryptographic baseline.
  5. Does everything need to migrate at the same time?   No. Migration should be prioritized according to risk, confidentiality requirements, business criticality, technical feasibility, vendor support, and operational dependencies. A phased roadmap allows the organization to address the most consequential exposures first.
  6. Does PQC replace symmetric encryption such as AES?   The most direct quantum threat addressed by current PQC standards concerns public-key cryptography used for key establishment and digital signatures. Symmetric encryption and hash functions are affected differently and should be evaluated using appropriate security-strength, key-length, use-case, and lifecycle considerations.
  7. What is crypto-agility?  Crypto-agility is the ability to identify and change cryptographic algorithms, protocols, keys, certificates, libraries, and policies without disproportionate disruption. It requires maintained visibility, clear ownership, adaptable architectures, governance, and repeatable operating processes.

Technical References

  1. NIST FIPS 203 — Module-Lattice-Based Key-Encapsulation Mechanism Standard (ML-KEM)
  2. NIST FIPS 204 — Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Standard (ML-DSA)
  3. NIST FIPS 205 — Stateless Hash-Based Digital Signature Standard (SLH-DSA)