The French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) has taken a proactive stance against the emerging threat of quantum computing by issuing a comprehensive Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) migration strategy. The roadmap, released today, mandates that all critical national infrastructure—including energy grids, telecommunications, and government data centers—must transition to quantum-resistant encryption standards by 2028. This move is a direct response to ‘harvest now, decrypt later’ strategies employed by advanced persistent threats.
The strategy outlines a phased approach, beginning with a thorough audit of current cryptographic dependencies and followed by the implementation of hybrid classical-quantum algorithms. ANSSI’s leadership in this area is seen as a vital component of European digital sovereignty, ensuring that sensitive data remains secure even as the capabilities of quantum computers continue to advance. The agency is also providing technical guidance and funding to help private sector partners in regulated industries meet these new security benchmarks.