Introduction
Imagine: your corporate VPN, document signatures, TLS connections, database encryption — all of it suddenly becomes unprotected. Not because of an admin error, but because a quantum computer solves in minutes a problem that would take classical machines billions of years. Sounds like a sci-fi movie plot? Unfortunately, it's the near future.
Today, in July 2026, we already see industrial quantum processors with hundreds of qubits (IBM Quantum, Google Sycamore, IonQ). Although a universal quantum computer capable of breaking RSA-2048 has not yet been built, the threat of "harvest now, decrypt later" is already forcing banks, government agencies, and tech giants to prepare for the post-quantum era. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has completed the selection of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms: in August 2024, CRYSTALS-Kyber for encryption and CRYSTALS-Dilithium for signatures were approved, and in 2025 — FALCON and SPHINCS+ as additional standards NIST IR 8413.
Does this mean you need to change all encryption in your company tomorrow? Yes, but not chaotically — according to a well-thought-out migration plan. That's exactly what the course "Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography" on the asibiont.com platform is for. If you are responsible for IT security, cryptosystem architecture, or just want to understand what hybrid PQ/TLS 1.3 schemes and crypto agility are — this material is for you.
What is quantum computing and why does it threaten modern cryptography?
Quantum computing is a paradigm where information is encoded not in bits (0 or 1), but in qubits that can exist in a superposition of states. Thanks to quantum entanglement and interference effects, quantum algorithms can perform some tasks exponentially faster than classical ones.
The greatest danger to cryptography is Shor's algorithm (1994): it can factor large numbers and compute discrete logarithms in polynomial time. This means that RSA, DSA, ECDSA, ECDH — all asymmetric schemes based on the hardness of these problems — will fall to a sufficiently powerful quantum computer in hours or days. Grover's algorithm speeds up key search, reducing the security of symmetric ciphers (AES) by half, but this is compensated by doubling the key length.
Practical example: in 2024, a group of researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China demonstrated factoring a 48-bit number on a 10-qubit quantum processor (Physical Review Letters, 2024). This is far from 2048-bit RSA, but progress follows Moore's Law for quantum qubits. Major players — IBM, Google, IonQ — announce plans to build 1000+ logical qubits by 2029–2030 IBM Quantum Roadmap.
Post-quantum cryptography: what replaces it?
Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is a set of cryptographic algorithms that are believed to be resistant to attacks from both classical and quantum computers. NIST conducted a multi-year competition and standardized in 2024:
| Category | Algorithm | Security Basis | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encryption/KEM | CRYSTALS-Kyber (ML-KEM) | Lattice problem Learning With Errors (LWE) | Key exchange, TLS |
| Digital signatures | CRYSTALS-Dilithium (ML-DSA) | Lattice problem Module-LWE | Document signing, code signing |
| Digital signatures | FALCON | Lattice problem Short Integer Solution on NTRU | Compact signatures |
| Digital signatures | SPHINCS+ | Hash functions (stateless) | Long-term signing |
Additionally, NIST is considering code-based cryptography (McEliece, BIKE, HQC) and hash-based schemes (XMSS, LMS) for specialized scenarios. All these algorithms are already available in the Open Quantum Safe (liboqs) library and are integrated into OpenSSL 3.x, BoringSSL, NSS. More details about the standards can be found in the final NIST report NIST PQC Standardization.
How can companies transition to post-quantum cryptography: the role of crypto agility
Simply replacing RSA with Kyber is not migration. In modern IT systems, cryptography is embedded in hundreds of components: TLS stacks, signature libraries, certificate formats, authentication tokens, databases. You need not only to replace algorithms but also to ensure crypto agility — the ability to quickly switch between cryptographic primitives without rewriting applications.
Practical approach: use hybrid schemes (hybrid PQ/TLS 1.3), where classical cryptography (X25519) is combined with post-quantum (Kyber). This way, even if one system is compromised, the other continues to protect the connection. For example, Google Chrome since version 116 (2023) already supports hybrid key exchange X25519Kyber768 in TLS 1.3 Google Security Blog. In the months since 2026, hybrid schemes have become the de facto standard for major cloud providers (AWS, Cloudflare, Microsoft).
Migration plan includes:
1. Inventory of crypto assets — find all places where RSA/ECC/Diffie-Hellman is used in your infrastructure.
2. Risk assessment — for each asset, determine criticality and data lifetime.
3. Selection of post-quantum algorithms — based on NIST standards and environment compatibility.
4. Pilot implementation of hybrid schemes — testing in a test/staging environment.
5. Sequential rollout — replacing protocols and libraries while maintaining backward compatibility.
This is exactly the methodology and practical tools provided by the course on asibiont.com.
What does the course "Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography" on asibiont.com offer?
The course is designed for engineers, architects, and IT security managers who want not just to "know theory" but to be able to apply PQC algorithms in practice, work with quantum SDKs (Qiskit, Cirq, Q#), design hybrid schemes, and create migration roadmaps.
What will you learn?
- Understand quantum algorithms at a level sufficient to assess their impact. You will grasp superposition, entanglement, measurement, and learn to build simple quantum circuits using Pauli, Hadamard, CNOT, and Toffoli gates. Find out how Shor's, Grover's, Quantum Fourier Transform, and Phase Estimation algorithms work. Without deep math — only a practical engineer's perspective.
- Master NIST post-quantum standards. Study CRYSTALS-Kyber, CRYSTALS-Dilithium, FALCON, SPHINCS+. Understand the differences between lattice-based (LWE, Ring-LWE, NTRU), code-based (McEliece, BIKE, HQC), and hash-based (XMSS, LMS) schemes. Be able to choose the right algorithm for a task.
- Work with tooling. Learn to use Qiskit (IBM), Cirq (Google), and Q# (Microsoft) to run quantum programs on simulators and real processors. Learn PQC integration through liboqs, OpenSSL 3.x.
- Build hybrid schemes. Practical experience in configuring PQ/TLS 1.3, adding post-quantum signatures to CI/CD pipelines, implementing crypto agility in microservice architectures.
- Develop a migration plan. Learn to conduct crypto asset inventory, assess risks, create a roadmap, and defend it before management.
How is learning organized on asibiont.com?
We use AI generation of personalized lessons. You specify your current level (beginner in quantum, experienced cryptography specialist, or architect), and the neural network selects the program: volume, complexity, pace. Lessons are text-based, with interactive code examples, links to documentation, and self-test questions. No videos — only concentrated information that you can read anytime, on any device.
Why is AI learning modern?
Classic online courses are fixed: you go through the same slides as hundreds of other students. The neural network on asibiont.com analyzes your answers, time spent on topics, and mistakes to adapt the next lesson. If you quickly grasped the principle of LWE — AI skips repetition and gives a more difficult task. If you're stuck on Quantum Fourier Transform — the system offers additional explanations in simple language and practical problems. It's like a personal tutor, but available 24/7.
The course is fully text-based — no video lessons, which allows you to:
- quickly search for the desired section;
- copy and paste code examples;
- read on public transport or during breaks;
- not waste time watching long videos.
AI also generates practical assignments tailored to your stack: if you work with Python and OpenSSL, you get exercises on integrating Kyber into a Python application; if you are an infrastructure admin — on setting up Nginx with PQ/TLS.
Who is the course for?
- DevOps engineers and security administrators who need to implement PQC in existing infrastructure.
- Application and cryptographic solution architects developing migration strategies for large companies.
- System software developers working with OpenSSL, BoringSSL, liboqs libraries.
- CISOs and heads of information security departments making decisions about purchasing and implementing protection systems.
- Researchers and students wanting to enter the field of quantum computing and PQC.
The course does not require deep knowledge of quantum physics. Basic understanding of cryptography (RSA, AES) and experience with the command line is enough. AI will explain everything else during the training.
Why start learning right now?
The full quantum threat is 5–7 years away. But migrating cryptography in a large organization takes 2–3 years. To be ready by the time a 1000-qubit computer appears, you need to start yesterday. Moreover, many regulators (NSA, BSI, ANSSI) recommend implementing hybrid schemes for new systems starting from 2025–2026.
The course on asibiont.com provides not only theory but also ready-made checklists, migration plan templates, and code examples for PQC integration. You can immediately apply the knowledge at work.
Learning outcomes:
- You understand how Kyber and Dilithium work at a level sufficient to explain to colleagues.
- You can set up hybrid TLS connections with post-quantum algorithms.
- You create a roadmap for your company's transition to PQC.
- You are protected from "harvest-now-decrypt-later" attacks.
Conclusion
Quantum computing will inevitably change the landscape of information security. But there is no need to panic — you need to act systematically. The course "Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography" on the asibiont.com platform is your guide in the world of post-quantum cryptography. It provides practical skills backed by current standards and real-world examples. AI learning makes the process efficient and personalized, saving your time.
Don't wait until a quantum computer breaks your infrastructure. Start preparation today.
Go to course "Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography" — and protect your company from future threats.
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