scope:

The present document examines a number of real-world uses cases for the deployment of quantum-safe cryptography (QSC). Specifically, it examines some typical applications where cryptographic primitives are deployed today and discusses some points for consideration by developers, highlighting features that may need change to accommodate quantum-safe cryptography. The main focus of the document is on options for upgrading public-key primitives for key establishment and authentication, although several alternative, non-public-key options are also discussed.

The present document gives an overview of different technology areas; identify where the security and cryptography currently resides; and indicate how things may have to evolve to support quantum-safe cryptographic primitives. Clauses five and six discuss network security protocols, using TLS and S/MIME as typical examples. These are contrasted in clauses seven and eight by an examination of security options for IoT and Satellite use cases, which have very different requirements and constraints than traditional internet-type services. Some alternatives to public key protocols are reviewed in clause nine. Authentication requirements are discussed in clause ten and some forward-looking examples providing advanced functionality are examined in clause eleven.