The Looming Quantum Migration: Why Cryptography Inventory is Essential

The internet, online transactions, and the security of our digital identities rely on an invisible guardian: cryptography. While the world we navigate online becomes increasingly complex, a small set of cryptographic algorithms has stood firm for decades, safeguarding the foundation of digital trust: confidentiality, authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation. However, the cryptography landscape is on the verge of a seismic shift. The rise of quantum computing threatens to render these classical algorithms obsolete.

The Quantum Threat and the Urgency of Migrating to Post-quantum Cryptography

Quantum computers hold immense potential but also pose a significant challenge to cybersecurity. Their processing power could crack widely used, current cryptography methods, jeopardizing everything from online banking to secure communications, or even proving that a contract was indeed digitally signed on a specific date. This looming threat necessitates a new approach—one that prioritizes agility and future-proofs our digital security.

The Importance of Cryptography Inventory

Imagine your digital assets as a vast vault. A cryptography inventory meticulously examines everything within that vault, including keys, certificates, algorithms, libraries, and protocols. You gain a clear picture of your current cryptographic posture by comprehensively gaining visibility to and analyzing your cryptographic assets.

A successful discovery initiative focuses on uncovering all cryptographic objects:

Keys: Knowing what keys you have, where they are stored, current key lengths being used, and who has access to them is crucial for maintaining strong security.
Certificates: Think of a certificate like a passport that is used to verify someone's identity – but it also contains a key that can be used for secure interactions. Certificates establish trust in online interactions by guaranteeing you are securely communicating with the legitimate entity you intend to.
Algorithms: These are the formulas that provide the core capabilities of cryptography – confidentiality, authentication, integrity, and digital signatures. Understanding the algorithms and associated key lengths being used is essential for robust security.
Libraries: These are software components that include algorithms and management of keys used in cryptography. Like protocols, libraries are managed using version numbers to ensure that versions no longer considered to be secure can be identified and updated to a secure version.
Protocols: These define the rules and procedures for secure communication, such as TLS (Transport Layer Security) used for HTTPS connections. Knowing the protocols employed, including which version of protocol, is vital for safeguarding data in transit.

Using technology and automation to continuously discover cryptographic objects and build an inventory is crucial. This inventory is needed well before cryptographically relevant quantum computers, or CRQCs (quantum computers that can crack or weaken classical cryptography), become available, which experts predict will be the case by 2030.

A Comprehensive Cryptography Inventory Enables a Smarter PQC Migration

Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) represents the next generation of algorithms designed to remain secure in the quantum age. However, migrating from current cryptography to PQC requires a deep understanding of your current cryptographic posture. To navigate this migration effectively, a centralized database of your cryptography metadata is essential. This database will provide needed visibility to make informed decisions regarding the priority order for migrating systems from classical cryptography to PQC.

A comprehensive cryptography inventory, in the context of PQC migration, offers many advantages:

Risk Identification: By meticulously documenting all cryptographic assets currently used across your systems and applications, you clearly understand your organization's cryptographic landscape. The inventory enables organizations to pinpoint specific issues, including current use of algorithms and key lengths that are no longer considered secure today. Scanning of end points, servers, and networks can uncover other current issues, including keys that are not appropriately protected (e.g., stored outside of an HSM) and inappropriate versions of protocols still in use.
Prioritization and Planning: The inventory gives visibility to enable prioritization of which systems and applications need the most urgent migration to PQC. Factors like security criticality, data sensitivity, and potential disruption and business risk should be considered when creating a strategic migration plan.
Resource Allocation: Understanding the extent of your cryptographic usage allows more efficient resource allocation during migration. You can estimate the workload required, identify any skill gaps within your team, and plan for any necessary training or external support.
Dependency Mapping: A comprehensive inventory helps identify dependencies between systems and applications that rely on cryptography. This ensures a smooth migration process by avoiding disruptions caused by overlooking interconnected components.

While a cryptography inventory is essential for PQC migration, it is a highly valuable tool to find vulnerabilities and threats in the current use of traditional cryptography across a digital landscape. A cryptography inventory provides visibility to compliance gaps and enables organizations to understand what is required to migrate on-premise applications to the cloud.

Introducing AgileSec™ Analytics: The Industry's Most Comprehensive Cryptography Inventory Solution

Fortunately, you don't have to navigate this critical shift alone. InfoSec Global offers AgileSec Analytics – the most advanced cryptography discovery solution. AgileSec Analytics provides a centralized view of all cryptographic assets, offering unparalleled breadth and depth of visibility.

The InfoSec Global and Utimaco Partnership: A Secure Future

InfoSec Global's AgileSec Analytics seamlessly integrates with Utimaco's u.trust General Purpose HSM Se-Series, a crypto-agile and PQC-ready Hardware Security Module designed explicitly for managing cryptographic keys. This powerful partnership offers a comprehensive solution for managing keys and deploying PQC.

Benefits of the AgileSec Analytics and Utimaco u.trust General Purpose HSM Se-Series Integration
The integration of AgileSec Analytics and Utimaco's u.trust General Purpose HSM Se-Series offers compelling advantages:

PQC Migration Readiness: AgileSec Analytics helps identify and prioritize assets that rely on vulnerable algorithms, enabling organizations to plan a smooth transition to PQC solutions.
Quantum-Safe Key Management: Utimaco's u.trust General Purpose HSMs provide a secure environment for generating, storing, and managing PQC keys, ensuring long-term cryptographic agility.

Taking Control of Your Digital Future

The quantum future is approaching, but it doesn't have to be daunting. By proactively addressing cryptography inventory and leveraging the combined expertise of InfoSec Global and Utimaco, you can ensure the continued security of your digital operations.

August 1st, 2024 Webinar: Enhancing Visibility of HSM Keys across the Digital Ecosystem

Discover your path to quantum safety by joining cybersecurity experts Eric Portrait, Technical Product Manager GP HSM, Utimaco, and Julien Probst, Chief Customer Officer, InfoSec Global, in this upcoming webinar that covers: