What Is “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” and Why Should You Care?

Attackers are currently collecting encrypted data with the intention of decrypting it in the future using quantum computers, a strategy known as "harvest now, decrypt later". This tactic poses a significant threat to long-lived sensitive data, including government, financial, healthcare, and blockchain records. The risk is already active, as adversaries are intercepting and storing encrypted communications, awaiting the development of quantum computers capable of decrypting the data. The use of post-quantum cryptography is necessary to prevent future data exposure, making early migration essential. As quantum computing advancements accelerate, the timeline for cryptographic migration narrows, increasing the urgency for entities to plan and implement post-quantum cryptography¹. This matters to practitioners because the failure to migrate to post-quantum cryptography in a timely manner will leave sensitive data vulnerable to decryption by quantum computers, compromising the security of sensitive information.