U.S. President Joe Biden signed the “Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act” yesterday, according to a memo from The White House.
The bipartisan law encourages the federal government to adopt technology that is protected from decryption by quantum computing. The legislation, co-sponsored by Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., recognizes that future quantum computers may have the potential to crack most encryption techniques.
The law will now require the Office of Management and Budget to prioritize post-quantum cryptography for federal agencies when the acquire or migrate to new IT systems. The White House would also be required to create guidance for federal agencies to assess critical systems one year after the National Institute of Standards and Technology — NIST — issues post-quantum cryptography standards that the institute is currently developing.
At the time, OMB said also in its memo that agencies would be required to submit to both the Office of the National Cyber Director and the White House an assessment of extra funding needed for the adoption of post-quantum cryptography within 30 days.
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