tech · quantum risk
Is PQC migration checklist Quantum Proof? Cyber Program & PQC
Verdict
A PQC migration checklist turns strategy into sequenced work: inventory, prioritize by HNDL and exposure, pilot hybrid, scale, and measure. It does not itself make systems quantum-proof until items are completed.
Overview
Checklists prevent “PQC project” theater. Typical phases: discover, classify data longevity, pilot high-value channels, expand, decommission classical-only paths where policy allows.
Include people and process: owners, exception boards, vendor RFPs, and tabletop exercises for crypto incidents.
Program inventory focus: Unscoped migrations that miss identity, archives, or vendors. Typical classical surfaces: Target algorithms (e.g. ML-KEM, ML-DSA families—verify current standards); Hybrid transitional modes. Cross-read /security/program and /assessment. Educational only—not compliance advice.
Cryptographic profile
What breaks
- Skipping inventory
- Only changing public websites
- No rollback for hybrid pilots
Mitigations
- Use inventory + CBOM inputs
- Pilot hybrid TLS and one identity path
- Track KPIs: % traffic hybrid, cert algorithm mix, vendor roadmap coverage
FAQ
How long is migration?
Multi-year for large enterprises; early inventory and pilots still pay off immediately.
NIST-only?
Follow applicable national standards for your sector; NIST PQC is a common technical baseline.
Key concepts (technical dictionary)
Terms used on this page — open a definition: