The Urgency of Quantum Readiness – What the Intelligence Community Needs to Know Now

From IC Insider Tychon

The Quantum Countdown

Quantum computing has moved from theoretical curiosity to technological inevitability and with it comes one of the largest security transitions in modern history. When Dr. Peter Shor unveiled his algorithm in 1994, the world learned that quantum computers could one day break the public-key encryption that protects everything from battlefield communications to classified research and national intelligence data.

That day, commonly known as “Q-Day,” may be closer than many think. Dr. Michele Mosca, one of the world’s foremost experts in quantum computing timelines, gives Q-Day a 1-in-7 chance by 2026 and a 50 percent chance by 2031. For the Intelligence Community (IC), where adversaries continuously collect encrypted traffic to decrypt later (“Harvest Now, Decrypt Later”), this risk is immediate.

There will be an immediate impact if large scale quantum computers emerge

• Breaking RSA, Diffie–Hellman, and ECC – the algorithms that protect most classified and unclassified government communications.
• Compromising diplomatic, military, and IC networks that still rely on classical public-key cryptography.
• Identity theft of government credentials, including digital signatures.

Harvest Now, Decrypt Later Is Already Here

Adversaries do not need to wait for Q-Day. Many already intercept and store encrypted communications today with the expectation that they can decrypt them once quantum computing power matures. Data collected now such as diplomatic cables, SIGINT and HUMINT communications, Intelligence sharing arrangements or even sensitive personnel records may be exposed years later. What is at risk, historical operational TTPs, sources, networks, covert methods, OPSEC, and more to provide our adversaries with a greater understanding of U.S. Intelligence.

The only defense is proactive migration to quantum-safe algorithms, known collectively as Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).

PQC Mandates Are in Motion

Federal and IC organizations are not starting from scratch. A series of policies and directives are already shaping the national PQC roadmap:

• OMB M-23-02 – Requires agencies to inventory and assess cryptography, report on quantum-susceptible algorithms, and establish PQC transition plans.
• NSM-10 – Directs agencies to protect National Security Systems (NSS) from quantum threats.
• NIST PQC Standards – Algorithms like CRYSTALS-Kyber and CRYSTALS-Dilithium are being standardized into Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) for broad adoption.

Together, these mandates demand one critical capability: knowing what cryptography you have, where it resides, and whether it’s quantum-vulnerable.

The Four Phases of Quantum Readiness

Every organization, from mission system owners to intelligence analysts, will need to navigate four core phases of quantum readiness:

1. Information Discovery: Identify systems, data flows, and communication channels using encryption.
2. Cryptography Inventory: Locate every algorithm, key, and certificate in use.
3. Risk Assessment & Analysis: Determine which assets are quantum-susceptible and prioritize remediation.
4. Remediation & Migration: Replace vulnerable cryptography and modernize systems for PQC.

Manually completing these steps across hundreds of thousands of endpoints and applications could take years, time the IC cannot afford.

Automating Readiness with Tychon

Tychon Quantum Readiness automates cryptography discovery, inventory, and risk assessment across endpoints, networks, containers, and cloud environments. The lightweight, stateless utility deploys seamlessly through tools IC agencies already use such as BigFix, Intune, SCCM, or Ansible, with no new agents or consoles to manage.

Within hours, mission owners can see where vulnerable cryptography lives, score their risk using NIST-aligned metrics, and generate dashboards suitable for compliance reporting to OMB M-23-02 and NSM-10.

Field-proven on more than one million U.S. Government systems, Tychon demonstrates scalability that matches IC mission environments.

Risk Management, Not Reinvention

Cybersecurity has always been about risk management. Tychon brings that same maturity to quantum readiness. Helping agencies measure, analyze, mitigate, and manage cryptographic risk without disrupting existing operations or retraining staff.

Because data never leaves the customer environment and Tychon runs within existing security stacks, it aligns naturally with classified, air-gapped, and compartmented networks.

The Time to Act Is Now

Quantum readiness is no longer a research initiative. It’s a national security imperative. Agencies that begin automated cryptographic discovery today gain the time and clarity needed to meet federal timelines and stay ahead of adversaries already collecting data for future decryption. Taking action now is necessary and beneficial to agencies as it:

• Gives leaders the facts needed to plan as early inventory provides the scope, scale, and complexity necessary to build accurate PQC budgets, staffing models, and modernization timelines.
• Enables smart prioritization by knowing which systems use quantum-vulnerable algorithms lets agencies focus first on the highest-risk, highest-impact assets.
• Creates leverage with vendors and integrators exposing dependencies on third-party products, giving agencies time to secure roadmaps, upgrades, and contract modifications.

Learn where your cryptography stands. Visit tychon.io to schedule a Quantum Readiness Assessment and receive your no-cost 90-day pilot.

About Tychon

TYCHON is a NIST NCCoE consortium collaborator and proven cybersecurity innovator delivering automated cryptography discovery and quantum-readiness solutions across U.S. Federal, DoW, and commercial enterprises. Tychon provides instant cryptographic visibility, risk assessment, and compliance reporting for the post-quantum era.

Sponsored content provided by Tychon LLC, a NIST NCCoE consortium collaborator for PQC.

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