US government lagging in transition to post-quantum encryption, GAO finds

The U.S. government has taken some steps to prepare for the looming global migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC).

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has standardized PQC encryption algorithms that can resist quantum computers’ code-breaking power.

The Office of Management and Budget has directed agencies to prepare for the transition.

“Federal agencies recognize the quantum computing threat and have taken some actions to partially address it,” GAO said in its new report.

Sixteen of those agencies told GAO that it was too early for testing because most vendors still hadn’t incorporated the new algorithms into their products.