Post-Quantum TLS with ML-KEM: Quantum-Safe Encryption for the HNDL Threat
Networking
Rajeev R
January 22, 2026
Rajeev R
January 22, 2026
Every second, billions of connections happen online. Whether you are checking your bank account, shopping, video calling, or sharing medical records, encryption keeps all that data safe. But the rise of quantum computing is challenging the security we take for granted, driving the need for Post-Quantum TLS.
Quantum computers used to be something out of science fiction. Now they are real, and they work very differently from the computers we use every day. Normal computers rely on bits, which are either zeros or ones. Quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in many states at once. This gives them the potential to solve certain mathematical problems that would otherwise take today’s computers thousands of years.
That is exciting for science, but it also rings alarm bells for cybersecurity. The algorithms protecting our data today, like RSA and ECDH, could be broken by quantum computers using techniques like Shor’s algorithm. What would take classical computers infeasible amounts of time could, in theory, be reduced to practical timeframes on sufficiently powerful quantum computers.
This is where Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Quantum-Safe Encryption come in. They are built to keep data secure even in a world with quantum computers. Starting Post-Quantum TLS and taking early steps toward PQC adoption is the best way to make sure our messages, transactions, and sensitive information stay safe in the years ahead. Let’s dive deeper into it and understand more in detail!
Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) is all about protecting our data in a world where quantum computers exist. Unlike quantum cryptography, it doesn’t need any fancy quantum hardware. Instead, it uses smart math that works on the computers and networks we already use today.
You can think of PQC as a new generation of public-key cryptographic algorithms that replace or augment today’s RSA and ECC schemes, while remaining secure even against powerful quantum computers. Many of these new PQC algorithms use Lattice-Based Cryptography, which makes them really hard to crack, even for quantum machines.
Getting started with PQC adoption now gives organizations a head start in protecting their sensitive data. It helps make sure that when quantum computers arrive, our internet and digital communication stay safe.
To support secure automation and telemetry, gNMI and gRPC-based network management protocols enable efficient monitoring and orchestration in post-quantum-ready environments.
The shift from old to new encryption standards highlights the growing need for stronger, future-ready data security.
The encryption we use today, like RSA, ECC, and Diffie-Hellman, keeps our data safe because it relies on math problems that regular computers cannot solve quickly. That’s why these systems have worked well for decades.
Many systems also depend on elliptic curves and elliptic curve Diffie-Hellman, which have been trusted for years. These methods rely on hard mathematical challenges such as integer factorization and discrete logarithms, which classical computers cannot solve efficiently. But quantum computers are about to change everything.
Take the RSA as an example.
Right now, Classical computers cannot feasibly factor RSA-2048 within any practical timeframe. But with a sufficiently large and fault-tolerant quantum computer running Shor’s algorithm could theoretically break it in a practical timeframe. That’s why Post-Quantum Cryptography is so important.
Traditional public key cryptography relies on problems that quantum computers can solve much faster, which is why stronger methods are needed. By moving to Post-Quantum TLS, we can make sure our data stays safe even when quantum computers become powerful enough to break today’s encryption.
The encryption we use today, like RSA and ECDH, works fine against regular computers. But quantum computers play by different rules. With enough qubits, they can solve the underlying mathematical problems far more efficiently than classical computers. This creates a serious future risk, especially for long-lived or sensitive data.
This quantum threat thus shows why switching to quantum-safe encryption is so important to keep our data safe before quantum computers get too powerful.
One of the biggest risks of quantum computing is the Harvest Now Decrypt Later (HNDL) attack. Here’s how it works in simple terms. Hackers can collect encrypted data today, like emails, bank records, or health information, and store it for the future. When a cryptographically relevant quantum computer becomes powerful enough, they can come back and decrypt all that data.
This is a serious problem because organizations often keep sensitive information for years. If that data is not protected with quantum-safe encryption, it could be exposed decades later. These attacks happen silently and leave no trace.
No one is completely safe! Banks, governments, healthcare providers, or even individuals could be targets. That is why early PQC adoption is so important to protect data today and for the future.
Identifying risks early is the first step toward stronger cybersecurity.
Quantum computers are thus changing the regime of cybersecurity. Most of the encryption we rely on today, like RSA, ECC, and Diffie-Hellman, could be broken once these machines get powerful enough. As future quantum computing advances, not only websites but also critical protocols like TLS, SSH, VPNs, IMAPS, and FTPS could be at risk due to their reliance on RSA and ECDH for key exchange.
The impact could touch almost every part of our digital lives. Banks could see customer transactions exposed. Hospitals might risk patient records and medical research. Governments could have sensitive communications compromised. Even connected devices, factories, and cloud services could become vulnerable.
This is why moving to hybrid post-quantum TLS adoption is so important. Using Post-Quantum TLS with ML-KEM and starting PQC adoption early helps make sure our data and systems stay safe. No matter how powerful quantum computers become.
To complement quantum-safe encryption, advancements in wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) technologies are reshaping how connected devices communicate securely across modern infrastructures.
ML-KEM, the NIST-standardized version of the Kyber algorithm, is a modern way to keep communications safe in the age of quantum computers. Unlike older encryption methods like RSA or ECC, which quantum computers can eventually break, ML-KEM is designed to resist quantum attacks.
Kyber uses Lattice-Based Cryptography, making it resistant to known classical and quantum cryptanalytic attacks. This is because Kyber’s design is based on module lattices, which provide strong security against quantum attacks.
Here are the key features of ML-KEM:
ML-KEM enables post-quantum security with fast, lightweight, and standardized encryption for the future.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been leading the global evaluation and selection of quantum-safe encryption methods.
As networks evolve to meet quantum-era demands, robust wireless validation becomes essential. Discover how ThinkPalm’s Wi-Fi testing services help you build faster, safer, and more resilient wireless communication frameworks.
ML-KEM (Kyber) is a key encapsulation mechanism built on Lattice-Based Cryptography. It helps two parties securely establish a shared secret key, even against attackers equipped with sufficiently powerful quantum computers.
ML-KEM supports different parameter sets, allowing organizations to choose their preferred balance between speed and security.
Here’s how it works step by step:
Kyber’s security comes from a tough math problem called Module Learning with Errors (MLWE).
The idea is simple: you have an equation b = A.s + e:
Given only A and b, figuring out s is extremely hard, like finding a needle in a noisy, high-dimensional grid.
No efficient classical or quantum algorithms are currently known to solve MLWE.
The receiver creates a key pair:
Anyone can use the public key to send a secret, but only the private key can recover it.
The sender wants to agree on a shared secret.
Using the receiver’s public key, the sender:
The sender encapsulates a shared secret into a ciphertext and sends only the ciphertext to the receiver.
The receiver takes the ciphertext and applies their private key.
They use the private key to decapsulate the ciphertext and derive the same shared secret.
Both senders and receivers now share the same secret key.
This key can be used in post-Quantum TLS, VPNs, SSH, email, and other protocols to encrypt the session with symmetric ciphers like AES.
ML-KEM delivers quantum-safe key exchange that is fast, secure, and globally standardized.
When you open a secure website, your browser and the server use TLS 1.3 to create a private, encrypted connection. With Post-Quantum TLS with ML-KEM, this process gets an upgrade to support secure communications even in the quantum era. Let’s see how it works:
This hybrid setup gives the best of both worlds:
It’s a big step forward in building a safer, future-ready internet.
These steps allow both sides to encrypt and decrypt information safely using a shared secret key that is resistant to both classical and known quantum attacks.
Additionally, Kyber functions as a quantum-resistant key encapsulation mechanism used to establish secure encryption keys.
As enterprises move toward hybrid encryption systems, intent-based networking models can help automate secure connection management and improve visibility across complex environments.
When most people think of TLS, they picture the small padlock next to a website address. But TLS protects much more than just web traffic. It also keeps your VPNs, emails, file transfers, and remote logins secure.
With Post-Quantum TLS with ML-KEM, all these systems get a major security boost. By adding ML-KEM key exchange to the existing TLS setup, organizations can make their encrypted connections strong enough to resist future quantum attacks.
Here is how it helps different protocols:
In short, Post-Quantum TLS with ML-KEM does not only protect web browsing. It strengthens the entire internet ecosystem.
Any service that uses TLS today can adopt this hybrid model to stay ready for the quantum future. Further, adopting hybrid PQC also improves crypto agility by letting systems switch algorithms easily as standards evolve.
Looking to secure distributed enterprise connectivity? Learn how Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN) simplifies hybrid TLS deployments and enhances quantum-safe VPN resilience.
The internet works because we trust that our data is safe. Every time we send a message, make a payment, or log in to a website, encryption keeps our information protected. But as quantum computers get more powerful, today’s encryption methods like RSA and ECC could become feasible to break with sufficiently powerful quantum computers. That is why we need new ways to stay secure, such as Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and ML-KEM.
PQC is the next big step in keeping data safe. These new tools are part of the move toward quantum-safe encryption. It uses mathematical problems for which no efficient classical or quantum attacks are currently known. ML-KEM, the NIST-standardized version of the Kyber algorithm, is designed to be both super secure and fast, making it a strong choice for the future.
Here is why ML-KEM and PQC adoption matters so much:
Moving to Post-Quantum Cryptography is not just about new technology. It is about making sure our online world stays private and safe, no matter how powerful computers become.
Quantum computing is no longer something from science fiction. It’s real, and it’s getting closer every day. While this technology promises amazing progress in science and research, it also puts today’s internet security at serious risk.
Attackers are not waiting for powerful quantum computers to appear. Many are already collecting encrypted data, hoping to decrypt it later when quantum technology becomes strong enough. That is why the move to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) is not just a good idea. It is rather a must.
With ML-KEM is being integrated into emerging post-quantum TLS standards and drafts., organizations finally have a trusted and efficient way to build quantum-safe encryption into their systems through advanced communication solutions.
The race toward PQC adoption is not about preparing for the distant future. It’s about protecting the data we send and store right now. With ThinkPalm’s expertise in secure communication and emerging cryptographic standards, enterprises can strengthen their understanding of post-Quantum TLS and prepare for future quantum-safe transitions.
Rajeev R is a Software Engineer at ThinkPalm Technologies, specializing in Layer 2 and Layer 3 network protocol development using C. He is currently involved in developing and optimizing network protocols for networking devices such as switches and routers.