Cisco Live 2025 in San Diego was largely focused on AI-ready data centers, digital resilience, and several new product announcements. These themes were constant although post-quantum cryptography (PQC) emerged as an underlying theme across security-focused sessions. The message was that you don’t have to wait a few years to make your network infrastructure quantum safe. This is a vector you can address now and make significant progress in your post-quantum migration strategy.
The Quantum Threat is Real
In March of 2025 NIST announced HQC as a backup algorithm for ML-KEM which reinforces what network and security professionals already know: quantum threats are evolving faster than people anticipated. Quantum computing threatens traditional encryption, and attackers are already preparing, making the transition to quantum-resistant cryptography more urgent than ever. The “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” (HNDL) attack vector has network and cybersecurity professionals concerned, as adversaries collect encrypted data today with the intention of breaking it once quantum computers become sufficiently powerful.
Problems With Vendor Roadmaps
The challenge all organizations face is that they are dependent on the timelines of their vendor roadmaps. Components like CPUs and TPMs which has a downstream affect to all hardware suppliers. Software vendors also need to update their applications for quantum-resilience as well. Many vendors provide estimates on when they will integrate PQC but roadmaps are always subject to change and will commonly slip for various reasons.
The Solution Exists Today
The journey to becoming quantum-safe will take a few years but like all strategies it will be a phased approach. An organization can’t do anything to expedite their vendor roadmaps but there is a solution that exists today that can be deployed within existing Cisco infrastructure.
At Cisco Live 2025 we announced Phio TX-EM. This is a virtual container that runs on Cisco networking devices (IOS XE, IOS XR, and NX-OS operating systems) that also support containers. Phio TX-EM is FIPS 140-3 and FIPS 203 validated and provides:
- Fast Implementation: Quickly deploy NIST-standardized algorithms using existing deployment tools
- Cryptodiversification®: Gain crypto-agility and seamlessly transition between algorithms as standards evolve, including the upcoming HQC integration
- Zero Downtime Migration: Protect existing systems while maintaining operational continuity
Quantum-Safe Migration Starts Now
NIST is strongly encouraging immediate action. Vendors are developing hardware, software, and applications for the future but your organization needs protection today. Our solution eliminates the waiting period and provides a practical path to quantum-readiness to harden your existing infrastructure and protect your data from HNDL attacks. To learn more check out our recent press release.
Be sure to also check out the full portfolio of solutions.
