The Replacement Locks already exist
This isn't a doomsday page. The defenses are ready — the work is adopting them:
**Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is standardized.** In August 2024, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalized its first post-quantum encryption standards — new algorithms built on math problems that quantum computers *can't* shortcut. U.S. government guidance now points toward phasing out today's vulnerable algorithms by the early-to-mid 2030s.
**Vendors are rolling it out.** Browsers, operating systems, VPN platforms, and security vendors are shipping quantum-resistant options now. Every hardware refresh and contract renewal between now and Q-Day is a chance to move in the right direction — or to lock yourself into equipment that can't.
**Crypto-agility is the real goal.** The winning posture isn't a one-time fix; it's knowing where cryptography lives in your business and being able to swap algorithms without ripping everything out. That's an inventory-and-planning problem — exactly the kind of problem that's cheap to solve early and brutal to solve late.
