Post Quantum Cryptography – a game changer for electronic identity documents?

Revolutionary technological advances such as the invention of the personal computer, smart phones, the increasing integration of artificial intelligence in our day-to-day life and the rise of Internet of Things have fundamentally changed our lives. A New Era is dawning with the advent of quantum computing which will surely bring improvement and enhancement to our lives, but is also shadowed with challenges and drawbacks.

Quantum computers use quantum mechanical effects for computation, aiming to exponentially accelerate operations. Once available with sufficient computing power, quantum computers can solve certain calculations much faster than today’s conventional computers. Hence, they will disruptively threaten current security algorithms such as RSA and ECC, which are used in almost all electronic Identity documents.

Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) refers to cryptographic algorithms that aim to be efficiently secure against attacks performed by quantum computers. Even though the threat is not imminent yet – mostly because a long transition period is expected, and also due to the fact that many ecosystem stakeholders are not yet actively involved – immediate actions for early preparation should be taken already now, so that appropriate and commercially feasible solutions are available in due time.