Modern digital security depends on cryptographic systems like RSA and elliptic curve cryptography, which rely on the computational difficulty of problems such as integer factorization and discrete logarithms. Quantum computers fundamentally change this equation. Algorithms like Shor’s algorithm could enable sufficiently powerful quantum machines to break these widely used encryption schemes, putting sensitive data, communications, and critical infrastructure at risk. Even before large-scale quantum computers exist, the “harvest now, decrypt later” threat is already driving urgency across governments and industries.
Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is the response to this challenge. PQC refers to new cryptographic algorithms designed to be secure against both classical and quantum attacks, while remaining deployable on today’s systems. Standardization efforts led by organizations such as NIST and the IETF are shaping how these algorithms are adopted in real-world protocols.
In particular, hybrid approaches—such as hybrid TLS that combine classical encryption with PQC algorithms—are emerging as a practical transition strategy, enabling organizations to deploy quantum-resistant protections without sacrificing compatibility.
Nalini Elkins is a Trustee of the Industry Network Technology Council. She is also the CTO and co-founder of Outside the Stacks, Inc. Nalini is a recognized leader in the field of computer performance measurement and analysis. In addition to being an experienced software product designer, developer, and planner, she is a formidable businesswoman. She has been the founder or co-founder of three start-ups in the high-tech arena.
Nalini started her career doing network design and monitoring for the Chevron network. She specializes in network performance analysis, measurement, monitoring, tuning, and troubleshooting of large enterprise networks. One of her specialties is training and network design for IPv6 migration for large enterprises.
At the heart of quantum technology are principles that challenge classical intuition, including superposition and entanglement. Quantum key distribution (QKD) leverages these properties to enable theoretically secure communication, where any attempt at eavesdropping can be detected. Entanglement—the phenomenon in which particles remain correlated across distance—underpins not only QKD but also future quantum networks and distributed computing architectures.
Beyond communication, quantum sensing is emerging as one of the most mature and transformative applications. Quantum sensors have the potential to redefine navigation by reducing or even eliminating reliance on GPS, enabling precise positioning in environments where satellite signals are unavailable or unreliable. Looking further ahead, quantum technologies could support entirely new infrastructure paradigms, including the possibility of data centers in space, where quantum communication links and ultra-secure networks operate beyond terrestrial constraints.
As these capabilities evolve, the need for interoperability, security, and performance standards becomes critical, requiring coordination across industries and international bodies to ensure scalable and trusted quantum ecosystems.
Dr. Bruno Avritzer is the quantum theory lead at Leidos and the vice-chair of the QED-C Standards and Performance Metrics technical advisory committee, and specializes in the theory of quantum communications and networked quantum devices, ranging from secure quantum communications to distributed quantum computing.
Link to workshop:
Jason Livingood serves as Vice President of Technology Policy, Product & Standards at Comcast. He leads Comcast’s efforts in developing & deploying new open standards, supporting applied R&D via collaboration with the research community, engaging with governments, regulators, and other external key stakeholders on Technology Policy issues, and providing leadership on end user product technology roadmaps.
Jason joined Comcast in 1996 to help a small team transition from field trials to launching the high-speed Internet service business. He and a small team of colleagues later co-founded Comcast’s business class Internet services and he’s also been instrumental in the creation of Xfinity Voice, Xfinity Home and Xfinity WiFi. He has held a wide range of roles at the company, including in architecture, engineering, operations, software development, DevOps, and product management.
He also serves as on the Internet Architecture Board and serves or has served in a wide range of other industry technical groups.
Oprational Security Considerations for IPv6 Networks (RFC 9099)
-
This session provides operational security insights for running IPv6 networks, addressing new challenges that differ from IPv4 and offering recommended mitigation techniques for managed environments.
-
This session covers: security in enterprise, service provider, and managed residential networks, helping operators make secure deployment choices.
-
This session covers topics such as IPv6 addressing plans, handling of extension headers, link-layer protections, control plane hardening, and best practices for routing security.
-
This session also includes dual-stack and IPv4/IPv6 coexistence mechanisms, highlighting the associated security considerations and strategies for mitigating risks.
Many of the public-key cryptographic standards we use today will be vulnerable to attacks from a large-scale quantum computer. To address this threat, NIST initiated a rigorous process in 2016 to select quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms to standardize. This talk will review this NIST PQC standardization effort, which culminated in the publication of the first set of PQC standards in August 2024, with ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA. The talk will also detail the ongoing standardization of additional signature scheme(s), called “the on-ramp”, and the selection of HQC for an additional KEM standard.
Crucially, the talk will outline the necessary transition to those new standards. Migration timelines are given in NIST IR 8547, which proposes that currently approved quantum-vulnerable public-key algorithms will be disallowed after 2035. The talk will showcase the efforts of the National Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence’s Migration to PQC project, which is helping the community by tackling adoption issues, testing how different systems work together, and providing advice to speed up the global shift to secure cryptography against quantum threats.
Quynh Dang is a member of the Cryptographic Technology Group (CTG) at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He has worked in the field of applied cryptography for 20+ years. His interests include symmetric key, asymmetric key and post-quantum cryptography, and protocol security.