Trends in Development of Post-Quantum Cryptography

Currently, there are two encryption methods that are capable of resisting quantum attacks. The first is quantum cryptography that is based on quantum mechanics, while the other is post-quantum cryptography (PQC) that centers on a new class of hard mathematical problems. At the present stage, the overall benefits provided by PQC surpass those of quantum key distribution (QKD) because the underlying basis of the encryptions enabled by PQC is algorithms that quantum computers cannot break. Furthermore, PQC can be deployed with existing computing equipment. By contrast, QKD faces certain difficulties in terms of the development and setup of the related specialized equipment because quantum technology has yet to reach maturity. A considerable length of time as well as a significant amount of resources are needed to achieve widespread use for QKD.