Measuring a Moving Target
Current internet encryption has protected online interactions for decades, securing banking, healthcare, scientific collaboration, and government communications. However, quantum computing advances threaten this security. Quantum computers could solve mathematical problems that current encryption relies on, making widely used public-key cryptographic systems vulnerable.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, led by Anita Nikolich and Dr. Phuong Cao at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, are developing PQSee, an open-source tool measuring organizational readiness for post-quantum cryptography (PQC). This work aligns with a White House Executive Order issued in June directing federal agencies to accelerate their transition to post-quantum cryptography.
Cao identified a critical gap: while researchers developed quantum-resistant encryption standards, "we didn't have any measurements. We didn't know what was going on in the network." Initial measurements revealed extremely low adoption rates. The challenge is that post-quantum cryptography standards evolve continuously, making measurement a "moving target."
Giving Decision Makers Information
PQSee scans network traffic to inventory how much infrastructure has transitioned to post-quantum cryptography versus traditional encryption. According to Nikolich, "The first thing they have to do is understand where they are currently. They need to understand how big the problem is."
This visibility helps chief information officers, security teams, and research computing leaders plan infrastructure upgrades and investments.
Why FABRIC Matters
Testing PQSee across dozens of geographically distributed sites connected through FABRIC provided broader perspective than single campus networks. Nikolich noted that "FABRIC enables us to see traffic across many different locations and many different types of traffic."
Cao emphasized FABRIC's validation role: independent measurement comparison ensures accurate assessment of post-quantum cryptography adoption across research infrastructure rather than single institutions.
A Testbed for Innovation
FABRIC's flexibility allows researchers to rapidly test new monitoring tools and protocols as post-quantum cryptography standards evolve, deploying cutting-edge network monitoring software versions while contributing improvements back to the cybersecurity community.
Looking Ahead
Though the original research project nears completion, demand from campus IT leaders, industry partners, and the research community continues growing. The team plans expanding PQSee, improving measurement capabilities, and increasing organizational understanding of post-quantum readiness. Project information is available at PQSee.com.
As governments and organizations prepare for post-quantum cryptography transition, accurate measurements become increasingly important. FABRIC provides a national testbed for experimentation, validation, and deployment, helping researchers move from speculation toward evidence-based cybersecurity.