Understanding Post-Quantum Cryptography Standards & Compliance

The transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is no longer a matter of “if,” but “when.” With the standardization of PQC algorithms now underway and compliance expectations clearly forming across global jurisdictions, organizations must begin preparing their products and systems today to ensure long-term security, interoperability, and market access.

Government agencies, regulators, and international standards bodies are publishing concrete requirements for the integration of quantum-safe algorithms. These standards will shape future cryptographic design and validation practices, especially for sectors such as automotive, telecom, healthcare, and defense. In this blog post, we explore the most important developments in PQC standardization and what security and business teams need to do now to stay ahead.

The State of PQC Standardization

After a six-year evaluation process, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalized its first set of PQC algorithm recommendations. These algorithms are designed to replace RSA and ECC in environments where long-term confidentiality and resistance to quantum attacks are essential.

The first set of selected algorithms includes:

ML-KEM (based on Kyber) for key establishment – FIPS 203
ML-DSA (based on Dilithium) for digital signatures – FIPS 204
SLH-DSA (based on SPHINCS+) for hash-based signatures – FIPS 205
HQC as a backup KEM, selected in March 2025
FALCON for digital signatures (pending publication)

These algorithms are being incorporated into FIPS 140-3 validation paths for cryptographic modules used in government and enterprise systems.

Internationally, ISO/IEC is aligning with these recommendations through updates to standards such as ISO/IEC 14888 (digital signatures) and 18033 (encryption schemes). ISO has also standardized XMSS and LMS, stateful hash-based signature schemes, since 2018–2020.

These developments mark a shift from theoretical discussion to practical implementation. The message is clear: the standards are here. The window to prepare is now.

Regulatory Expectations Are Taking Shape

Multiple government agencies and regulatory bodies are issuing guidance that mandates or encourages PQC adoption within defined timelines. These include:

CNSA 2.0 (NSA, USA): Requires the use of quantum-safe algorithms for protecting National Security Systems. Full adoption is expected by 2030, with exclusive use by 2033.
EUCC (European Union): The EU Cybersecurity Act promotes PQC integration into Common Criteria Protection Profiles. ENISA and ETSI support flexible cryptographic architectures and hybrid deployments.
BSI (Germany): Recommends early migration to NIST-approved PQC algorithms and has published technical guidelines for hybrid crypto implementations.
NLNCSA (Netherlands): Government agencies are conducting cryptographic inventories to support migration planning.
GSMA (Telecom): Provides migration guidance for integrating PQC into protocols such as TLS, IKE, and 5G infrastructure.

These requirements signal a coordinated international effort to modernize cryptographic defenses in preparation for quantum threats—and compliance will increasingly become a gating factor for product approvals and government procurement.

Business Risk and the Cost of Inaction

While PQC is a technical transition, the implications are strategic. Delaying migration can introduce several business risks:

Procurement barriers: Government and high-assurance contracts may begin requiring PQC compliance.
Certification delays: Products targeting markets regulated by FIPS, Common Criteria, SESIP or industry-specific certifications may be blocked or forced into redesign.
Regulatory exposure: In sectors where long-term data protection is required (e.g., financial, medical, personal data), failure to adopt quantum-safe crypto could result in legal or compliance violations.
Technical debt: Updating firmware or cryptographic modules after deployment is costly. Systems built without future-ready cryptographic foundation will require full replacement or complex patching later.
Reputational damage: Cryptographic vulnerabilities discovered post-deployment—especially in long-lifecycle devices—can result in loss of trust, even if the algorithm itself was secure.

Cryptographic infrastructure is foundational. Strategic decisions made today will determine whether systems remain secure and compliant in the coming decade.

Secure Implementation Starts with Architecture

Even when quantum-safe algorithms are correctly selected, poor integration can still expose systems to attacks. PQC algorithms are larger and more complex than their classical counterparts, making them more challenging to implement securely—especially in constrained environments like IoT devices, smartcards, and embedded firmware.

To support long-term security and compliance, product teams should prioritize:

Cryptographic inventory: Identify all uses of RSA, ECC, or SHA-1 within products and infrastructure.
Future-upgradeable cryptographic design: Design systems that allow algorithms to be replaced without a full architectural overhaul.
Hybrid deployment: Use classical + PQC combinations (e.g., X25519 + Kyber) to support gradual migration.
Side-channel and Fault Injection resistance: Ensure PQC implementations are hardened against SCA and FI attacks—requirements that will become integral to certification schemes.

How Keysight Helps Organizations Prepare

Keysight supports product developers and security teams in aligning with emerging PQC standards and compliance frameworks. Our solutions span:

Implementation Security Testing: Side-channel (TVLA) and fault injection evaluations of PQC implementations to meet the expectations of FIPS, Common Criteria, and high-assurance standards.
Cryptographic Design Assessments: Workshops and assessments to help teams build flexible cryptographic infrastructure from the ground up.
Certification Readiness: Support for teams preparing for CNSA 2.0, EUCC, and other PQC-integrated certification paths.
Tooling for PQC Analysis: Keysight’s security testing platform is actively expanding to support Kyber, Dilithium, and SPHINCS+ in both pre-silicon and post-silicon workflows.

From firmware to secure elements, Keysight provides the expertise and tools to help organizations build and certify quantum-ready systems.

PQC adoption is no longer optional for organizations building secure products with long-term data protection requirements. Standards have been finalized, regulators are publishing timelines, and the cryptographic transition is actively underway.

To remain secure and competitive, businesses must move now to:

Understand the relevant standards
Design for cryptographic flexibility
Align with compliance pathways
Harden implementations against emerging threats

Secure implementation is not just a technical checkbox—it’s a business imperative.

Keysight helps teams navigate this transition with testing solutions, compliance expertise, and practical guidance on integrating PQC securely. For more information, reach out to us at [email protected].

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