Quantum computers threaten classical cryptography like RSA by solving prime factorization problems that would take supercomputers thousands of years. Lattice cryptography offers a quantum-resistant alternative based on the Learning With Errors (LWE) problem — finding the closest point in a high-dimensional lattice with added noise — which neither classical nor quantum computers can efficiently solve. NIST has standardized post-quantum algorithms based on this approach, and they are available today in open-source repositories. Organizations should begin transitioning now by creating a crypto bill of materials (C-BOM), auditing all cryptographic usage, prioritizing remediation of sensitive systems, and building toward crypto agility. The 'harvest now, decrypt later' threat means encrypted data captured today could be decrypted once quantum computers mature, making immediate action critical.
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