Quantum-Computing Threats Spur Steps Toward Stronger Encryption

The looming cybersecurity threat posed by quantum computing has prompted the US government to start pressing for the public and private sectors to adopt stronger encryption standards.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology in late August released the first finalized set of encryption tools designed to withstand cyberattacks from quantum computers—machines exponentially faster and more powerful than those in current use. NIST’s standards include instructions for system administrators on integrating the new encryption algorithms’ code—as well as an emphatic call to start “immediately.”

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on Sept. 27 publicly released its own guidance for ...